Edwards County Health Office

01/07/2026

😷Influenza-like illness rates (cough, fever, sore throat) are very high and rising exponentially. It's the highest this metric has been in 6 years.

Why is this flu season so intense?

1. One flu strain—called influenza A (H3N2)—mutated over the summer as it circulated in the Southern Hemisphere. While this is normal, the changes it made this year are more substantial than normal. The timing of the mutation was also just plain bad luck. It occurred after this year's flu vaccine formula was finalized in February. That means this year’s vaccines likely recognize part, but not all, of the updated virus.

2. Vaccination rates, especially among children, continue to decline substantially. Last year was the deadliest non-pandemic flu season for U.S. children on record. It also happened to have one of the lowest flu vaccination rates. This season, the vaccination rate is even lower.

**Vaccination still matters. Even a mismatched flu vaccine still provides some protection against severe illness. This is because the vaccines still train the immune system to recognize viral components that haven’t changed. Also, there is more than one flu strain circulating (not just H3N2). Preliminary data from the U.K. show that flu vaccination reduces hospitalization by 70–75% in kids and 30–40% in older adults.

01/07/2026

You may be seeing headlines about changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule. Here’s what families in Illinois should know:

✔️ Access hasn’t changed. Families can still get the full range of childhood vaccines recommended by pediatric and family medicine experts.
✔️ No out-of-pocket cost. These vaccines remain covered by private insurance, Medicaid, and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
✔️ The science hasn’t changed. The evidence continues to support the full childhood vaccine schedule.
✔️ Illinois guidance hasn’t changed. Our recommendations remain evidence-based and focused on protecting kids - especially during very high flu activity.

We’ll continue sharing clear, transparent guidance you can trust.
Learn more at https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization.html

01/05/2026

**UPDATED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 12/21-12/27/2025**

-Illinois Respiratory Illness Activity Level is now categorized as HIGH.
-Flu levels are VERY HIGH, COVID-19 levels are moderate, and RSV levels are low but ALL are trending upward.
-ER and hospital admissions for respiratory illness have increased dramatically over the last few weeks.
-Flu has by far become the most prevalent circulating respiratory illness now.
-ICU admissions: 32 with COVID-19, 95 with flu, 26 with RSV.
-Illinois Mortality Dashboard: There have been 35 deaths with pneumonia as a factor, 3 with COVID-19, and 3 with flu.

**Below, we have attached links to the Illinois Respiratory Illness Dashboard with more detailed information as well as a link to the CDC's Core Prevention Strategies for staying safe during this time of heightened respiratory illness activity.

https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/respiratory-disease/surveillance/respiratory-disease-report.html

https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html

The steps to take to help provide cleaner air.

12/29/2025

**Updated RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 12/14-12/20

-Overall Respiratory Illness Dashboard upgraded to MODERATE
-Hospital admissions for COVID, Flu, and RSV all trending up slightly
-FLU is on the rise with COVID and RSV all circulating as lesser levels
-ICU Admissions: 27 with COVID, 51 with Flu, and 17 with RSV

*Moderate levels indicate a need for good HAND HYGEINE and RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE. Masking is encouraged when NOT feeling WELL and encountering anyone with A weakened immune system who could be at greatest risk of severe complications from respiratory illness.

https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/respiratory-disease/surveillance/respiratory-disease-report.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInObIxK-VhgMVRjQIBR3GdgIGEAAYASAAEgL6EPD_BwE

12/15/2025

**UPDATED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 11/30-12/6

-Overall respiratory illness level is low in Illinois but flu, COVID-19, and RSV all trended up this past week.
-10.6% and 12.6% of ED visits and hospital admissions, respectfully, were due to acute respiratory illness.
-Our 65+ population is disproportionately more affected by many of the respiratory viruses.
-ICU admissions: 13 COVID-19, 18 Flu, 6 RSV.

*Vaccination is the best form of protection. Come in anytime to get your vaccines updated!

Data is preliminary and may change as additional reports are received.

12/09/2025

12/09/2025

**UPDATED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 11/23-11/29/25

-Overall Respiratory Illness Dashboard upgraded from "Very Low" to "Low".
-Hospital admissions for flu and COVID-19 increased while RSV admissions remained stable.
-Flu is slowly but surely on the rise.
-ICU Admissions: 8 with COVID-19, 14 with flu, 7 with RSV.

Data is preliminary and may change as additional reports are received.

12/05/2025

We are working on sending our vaccine reminder letters this month! If you have received a vaccine at our office within the last year and are due for any vaccines, we will send you a letter letting you know what those vaccines are!

12/01/2025

UPDATED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 11/16-11/22/25

-Overall Respiratory Illness Level remained "Very Low" but COVID-19, Flu, and RSV numbers trended up.
-Increase in ED visits and hospital admissions due to acute respiratory illness.
-ICU Admissions: 7 with COVID-19, 12 with Flu, 5 with RSV.

*Influenza activity is low in Illinois but rising particularly among young children. 1.6% of visits to the emergency department among children ages 0 to 4 were for influenza, up from 0.3% at the beginning of the month. Test positivity is also increasing.

Data is preliminary and may change as additional reports are received.

11/26/2025

11/24/2025

UPDATED RESPIRATORY ILLNESS DASHBOARD FOR 11/9-11/15/25

-Overall Respiratory Illness Level remained "Very Low".
-COVID-19 level trended down while flu and RSV levels trended up when compared to the previous week.
-Entero/rhinovirus largely remained the most prevalent circulating virus.
-ICU admissions: 5 COVID-19, 3 Flu, 1 RSV.
-There were 35 deaths in people with pneumonia and 2 in people with COVID-19.

Data is preliminary and may change as additional reports are received.

11/19/2025

UPDATED RESPIRATORY DISEASE DASHBOARD FOR 11/2-11/8/25

-Overall Respiratory Illness Level for Illinois: "Very Low"
-Hospital Admissions for COVID-19 and RSV trended up compared to the previous week. Admissions for flu remained stable.
-ICU Admissions: 5 for COVID-19, 1 for flu, 0 for RSV.
-School age children (5-17) and the 65+ population are most affected by acute respiratory illness right now.

Data is preliminary and may change as additional reports are received.