While a seasonal uptick in respiratory viruses is expected in winter each year, we’re still seeing higher overall numbers than in previous seasons, Sundareshan said. Along with respiratory viruses, a “very contagious” stomach bug is also causing illnesses.

— The flu, caused by influenza viruses that are always changing, leads to fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches and feeling tired. Flu symptoms tend to hit more quickly than cold symptoms, and can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks.

Washing your hands, using hand sanitizer, not sharing food and drinks, and washing and drying your clothing in high heat are your best bets to preventing this virus from getting in your system. "To prevent the virus from spreading, experts also recommend washing and drying clothes in a high-heat setting.

Many hospitals are requiring masks as illnesses amp up around the state of Illinois. According to multiple Illinois health systems, they've started implementing mask mandates throughout their facilities as respiratory infections, flu, RSV, and norovirus continue to spread across the state as winter settles in.

CHICAGO – Parents, beware: Kids are back in school and the virus known as the stomach flu is on the rise.

Health cases regarding the norovirus are on the rise. The Will County Health Department is reminding residents to be cautious about the spread of norovirus, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Illinois Department of Public Health have issued warnings about in recent weeks.

The CDC and IDPH have reported increased numbers of norovirus in Illinois and the country, with outbreaks occurring in Will County, and the Will County Health Department is reminding residents to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Bon Secours and Prisma Health are implementing new visitor restrictions as cases of influenza and respiratory illnesses rise across the country.

More people around Illinois are getting sick with respiratory illness. The Illinois Department of Public Health said the state is recording high levels of the flu, RSV, and COVID-19, which was an increase from moderate levels the previous week.

Norovirus cases have doubled compared to this ... Additionally, rates are highest in Midwestern states like Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio, among others, with one in three ...

including Illinois, are now reporting at high levels. Two young children in Chicago have recently died from the flu, officials said. An increase in cases of COVID, RSV, norovirus and the flu is ...

Stacker analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify the most common settings for foodborne outbreaks in Illinois.