Illinois flu cases surpass previous years as disease spreads across country – NBC Chicago

Influenza-like cases in Illinois surpass past two years, Department of Health data shows, as illness makes return in United States

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the state has so far recorded 1.1% positive influenza tests in total for the 2021-2022 season, with 17 hospitalizations.

Two weeks ago, Illinois recorded 1.9% positive test results, which is still higher than the 1% recorded in 2020 and the 1.7% recorded in 2018 for the same week.

Based on the latest data, this year’s influenza season cases have overtaken those in the 2020-2021 and 2018-2019 seasons. However, the positivity rate is down slightly, which was not the case for most of the previous years.

Most of the hospitalizations this year were in adults aged 65 and over, according to the IDPH, although one person aged 0 to 4 and two others aged 5 to 24 were also admitted to the ICU. .

The IDPH reports data based on “flu-like illness,” which health officials have defined as a fever over 100 degrees accompanied by a cough or sore throat.

All over the United States, influenza hospitalizations would increase and two child deaths have been reported this season.

Last year’s flu season was the lowest on record, likely because COVID-19 measures – school closures, distancing, masks and canceled trips – prevented the spread of the flu, or because the coronavirus has sort of ruled out other viruses.

“It’s shaping up to be a more normal flu season,” said Lynnette Brammer, who tracks flu-like illness for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The child deaths, which have been reported in Minnesota and Mississippi, are “sadly what we would expect when influenza activity resumes,” Brammer said.

During the exceptionally mild flu season last year, a child died. In contrast, 199 children died from the flu two years ago and 144 the year before.

In the most recent data, the most intense influenza activity has occurred in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, and the number of states with high influenza activity has increased from three to seven. In CDC figures released on Monday, states with high influenza activity are New Mexico, Kansas, Indiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, Georgia and North Dakota.

Here’s how to tell the difference between the common cold and the flu, according to the IDPH:

Common cold symptoms

• Congested nose
• sneezing
• Sore throat
• Mild cough or chest discomfort
• Slight fatigue

Common flu symptoms

• Fever over 100 degrees, usually lasts three to four days
• Headache
• Aches, general pain
• Fatigue or weakness, can last up to two to three weeks
• Extreme exhaustion
• Chest discomfort or cough