Pritzker Announces Illinois Rejoins Global Health Network as COVID Levels Decline

SPRINGFIELD — Cases of acute respiratory illnesses, including flu and COVID-19, have declined across Illinois according to state health data released in January, offering signs of improvement after one of the state’s toughest flu seasons in recent years.

Illinois had been experiencing unusually high levels of influenza activity earlier this winter, with flu severity reaching the highest category, described as “very high,” in early January. More recent data now places flu activity at a moderate level statewide. COVID-19 activity has also dropped, with severity now categorized as low, down from moderate levels reported last month.

State officials note that influenza can be spread before a person realizes they are sick. People with the flu are considered most contagious during the first three days of illness, with transmission possible beginning one day before symptoms appear and continuing for several days after symptoms start.

While case numbers reported by healthcare providers have declined, wastewater surveillance data from early February shows a mixed picture in parts of west-central Illinois. Treatment plants serving Jacksonville, Beardstown, Pittsfield, and Carrollton reported stable or slightly increased levels of flu and COVID-19 virus detection in wastewater samples. Health officials caution that wastewater data should not be viewed in isolation, as virus shedding rates can vary from person to person, but say the data generally aligns with trends observed by other public health agencies.

Hospital and emergency room data also suggest improvement. By late December, roughly one quarter of hospital admissions in Illinois were related to acute respiratory illness. As of January 24, Illinois Department of Public Health data showed that figure had dropped to about 14 percent of emergency room visits. Updated statewide figures are expected to be released soon, which may provide clearer insight into whether the respiratory illness season is continuing to wind down or leveling off.

At the national level, federal data indicates flu and COVID-19 activity is trending similarly in about half of the country, with many regions reporting stable or declining case levels.

In a separate public health development, Governor JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that Illinois is rejoining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, a system designed to share early warning information and coordinate responses to emerging health threats. State officials say participation in the network provides access to global surveillance data, technical expertise, and coordinated response support during public health events.

Illinois Department of Public Health officials said the move is intended to strengthen preparedness and information-sharing as health agencies continue monitoring respiratory illness trends across the state.

Public health leaders emphasize that monitoring data from multiple sources — including hospitals, emergency departments, wastewater systems, and national reporting — remains key to understanding how respiratory illness activity evolves in the weeks ahead.