Flu season is intensifying across Illinois, with hospitals and health departments reporting a significant increase in influenza cases, particularly Influenza A. According to Dr. Vidhya Prakash, Chief Medical Officer at SIU Medicine, the state is seeing a rise in respiratory illnesses due to the flu.
The Illinois Department of Health’s Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard reports that since January, influenza positivity rates have jumped nearly 15%. Memorial Health reported a 39% positivity rate for Influenza A last week, surpassing previous year’s figures.
Symptoms of influenza include fever, runny nose, sore throat, and body aches. Dr. Prakash advises individuals to seek medical attention if they exhibit these symptoms. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene and getting seasonal vaccines, noting that a flu shot can reduce the chance of contracting the virus and limit its severity.
Representatives from Carle and HSHS also confirmed a rise in influenza cases, highlighting the need for vigilance during this flu season.
Source: https://newschannel20.com/news/local/central-illinois-hospitals-seeing-rise-in-flu-cases