Flu-like illness
Low0.9%
outpatient visits with flu-like symptoms
Trend unavailable
Week ending Oct 10, 2026
What's Going Around in Chicago?
Latest reported illness readings for Chicago — October 2026
Your weekly respiratory picture
The available readings are low. That does not mean nobody is sick.
Illinois statewide surveillance. These readings are context for Chicago, not city case counts. Weekly reports lag behind infections.
COVID-19
Low0.6
hospital admissions per 100,000 people
Trend unavailable
Week ending Oct 10, 2026
RSV
Low0.1
hospital admissions per 100,000 people
Trend unavailable
Week ending Oct 10, 2026
Six reported weeks where available; each chart uses its own scale. Flu-like illness can be caused by several viruses. Hospital admissions do not count every infection. These are not personal risk scores.
A useful update for your group chat
The summary includes the readings, dates, sources, and statewide scope.
Measles (statewide)
13 cases in the current state tracker view. Approximate Illinois tracker • report through Sep 22, 2026. Not a Chicago case count or formal outbreak status.
Local measles answer →If your Chicago question is specifically COVID, open the direct COVID answer first. It uses Illinois statewide COVID-19 hospitalization surveillance for the Chicago area and keeps the city-vs-state scope clear.
Open the Chicago COVID answer →Beyond the numbers
What can I do with this?
Weekly readings give context. Your symptoms and a healthcare provider’s advice matter more for personal decisions.
General information for respiratory illnesses, not a diagnosis or personal medical advice. Trouble breathing or chest pain needs emergency medical care. Follow illness-specific guidance for measles and other infections.
Vaccination and other local health context
MeaslesHigh
13 cases in the current state tracker view
MMR CoverageHigh
91.8% in Illinois
Prevention context, not a weekly spread signal.
Local tap water check
Water quality checks for Chicago
Open the official water report, service-line notes, and renter checklist for Chicago. This is separate from what is spreading this week, but it is useful local-health context when you are renting, traveling, or moving.
Useful questions
Questions that make the Chicago page easier to use
Understand what the readings can tell you and when to check another source.
City Page Guide
How Do I Read a City Health Page Fast?
A quick city-page guide for users who want the local answer without getting stuck on charts, source scope, or which link to open next.
Trust Question
Why Does My City Page Use State Data?
A trust page that explains the scope of city pages clearly and routes people into the best city, state, and travel surfaces.
City or State?
Should I Check the City or State Page First?
A practical page that helps you choose the right city, state, or travel page on the first try.
Source and context
Where this city page data comes from
Updated
Latest respiratory week: Oct 10, 2026; measles tracker report through: Sep 22, 2026
Coverage
State-level disease surveillance plus slower city-level community context
Best For
Quick local infectious-disease orientation before deeper chart review
Use the top half of this page for the latest statewide signals relevant to Chicago, not exact city case counts. Public dashboards do not identify every ordinary cold or local cluster. The lower community-context section is older CDC PLACES data about respiratory burden and access to care, included to explain possible impact rather than current spread.
Methods →Data sources →Refresh cadence: Weekly for infectious-disease feeds; annual for CDC PLACES context
Secondary context
Community context that can change impact
This does not tell you what is spreading this week. These older community estimates help explain respiratory vulnerability and access to care in Chicago. They do not describe what is spreading this week. The measures below use CDC PLACES city estimates from 2022.
Respiratory burden
10.2%
Asthma
Higher asthma prevalence can mean more people feel respiratory surges harder.
Chronic lung disease
5.6%
COPD
COPD can raise the stakes when respiratory infections rise, especially for older adults.
Access to care
13.6%
Uninsured
Higher uninsured rates can make prevention, testing, and treatment harder to reach quickly.
Preventive care reach
76.9%
Annual Checkup
Routine checkups make vaccination, follow-up, and early care easier when illness is spreading.
See the full city context dataset14 more measures
Chronic Conditions
12.4%
Diabetes
32.9%
Obesity
5.3%
Cancer
5.1%
Heart Disease
3.4%
Stroke
30.7%
High BP
31.0%
High Cholesterol
Mental Health
18.7%
Depression
15.7%
Poor Mental Health
Health Behaviors
12.1%
Smoking
18.5%
Binge Drinking
25.2%
Inactive
37.9%
Sleep Deprived
Prevention & Access
58.6%
Dental Visit
More Cities in Illinois
Compare this snapshot with other major cities in Illinois.
Frequently Asked Questions
What illnesses are going around in Chicago, Illinois right now?
The available readings are low. That does not mean nobody is sick. These are Illinois statewide readings. Public dashboards do not identify every ordinary cold or local cluster. Measles is shown separately as 13 cases in the current state tracker view in the approximate Illinois tracker through Sep 22, 2026; that is not a Chicago case count or formal outbreak status.
Is the flu bad in Chicago right now?
Flu activity in Illinois (which includes Chicago) is currently low with 0.9% ILI. The dated CDC Rt direction estimate suggests activity may be increasing. See the Illinois flu page for weekly trend charts.
Why does this page include city-level community context?
The lower community-context section does not show what is spreading this week. It uses CDC PLACES (2022 data) to show slower-moving local vulnerability and access-to-care patterns in Chicago, such as asthma burden or uninsured adults, so the infection data has clearer local context.
Does Chicago have its own health data, or is this state-level?
This page combines two types of public-health data. Flu, COVID-19, RSV, and measles use Illinois statewide surveillance as context relevant to Chicago; they are not exact Chicago case counts. The lower community-context section adds slower Chicago-specific CDC PLACES estimates about respiratory vulnerability and access to care. Public dashboards can miss ordinary colds and small local clusters, so use local health-department notices for confirmed local events.
Local Health Signal is not affiliated with the CDC or any government agency. Data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for clinical decision making. See our methods page for details on data sources and limitations.