You’ve heard the cough in the CTA Red Line car. Maybe your kid’s entire third-grade class was out last Tuesday. Or honestly, maybe you’re the one currently staring at a thermometer wondering if 100.4 qualifies as a "real" fever. Chicago is currently hitting that messy, overlapping peak where the "big three" respiratory viruses—flu, COVID-19, and RSV—are all competing for space in our sinuses. It’s chaotic. It’s exhausting. And if you feel like everyone you know is sick, you aren't imagining things.
The data from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirms the vibe. We are seeing a distinct uptick in emergency room visits for respiratory symptoms across Cook County. But it isn't just one thing. It's a "cocktail" of pathogens. Some people are even testing positive for two things at once, which is exactly as fun as it sounds.
What is actually making Chicagoans sick?
Right now, the heavy hitter is Influenza A. Specifically, the H5N1 and H1N1 strains that tend to dominate this part of the season. Unlike a cold that lingers in your throat, the flu hitting the city right now is "hitting like a truck," as one nurse at Northwestern Memorial recently put it. We are talking about sudden onset. One hour you are fine, the next you are under three blankets with body aches that make your hair hurt.
Then there’s the COVID-19 situation. We aren't in 2020 anymore, but the virus is still very much here, mutating quietly. The current dominant subvariants, primarily from the JN.1 lineage, have gotten really good at dodging the immunity you got from that infection you had last summer.
The symptoms have shifted slightly too. People are reporting more upper respiratory "congestion" and sore throats rather than the loss of taste or smell that defined the early pandemic. It’s tricky. It looks like a bad cold, so people go to dinner, and suddenly five more people have it.
Why the "Chicago Crud" feels worse this year
You might hear people calling it the "Chicago Crud." That’s a catch-all term for when you test negative for COVID and Flu but still feel like garbage for two weeks. Often, this is Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) or Parainfluenza. These don't get the headlines that COVID does, but they cause significant lower respiratory distress.
Our weather isn't helping. Chicago’s "yo-yo" temperature swings—45 degrees and rainy one day, 15 degrees and windy the next—force us indoors. That’s where the transmission happens. Dry indoor air also parches your nasal membranes. When those membranes dry out, they get tiny cracks. Those cracks are basically a VIP entrance for viruses.
The RSV factor in the suburbs and city
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is traditionally thought of as a "baby virus," but that’s a dangerous misconception. While it’s definitely hitting the pediatric wards at Lurie Children’s Hospital hard, it’s also a major threat to seniors in neighborhoods like Beverly or Edison Park where multi-generational housing is common.
If you’re an adult with RSV, it might just feel like a gnarly chest cold. But if you pass that to a grandparent or an infant, the inflammation in their smaller airways can be life-threatening. The CDPH has been monitoring wastewater data—yes, they literally check the city's sewage—and RSV levels have stayed stubbornly high well into the winter months.
How to tell the difference (The "Cheat Sheet")
Look, nobody wants to spend $40 on a box of rapid tests, but guessing is a bad strategy.
Flu is usually the most "violent" in terms of onset. If you can pinpoint the exact minute you started feeling sick, it’s probably the flu. High fever and intense muscle aches are the hallmarks.
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COVID-19 is the great imitator. It can start with a scratchy throat or even just weird GI issues. The "brain fog" is still a very real clinical symptom being reported at clinics in the Loop and beyond.
A Cold generally stays "above the neck." Runny nose, sneezing, maybe a mild cough. If you don't have a fever, you're likely dealing with one of the 200+ rhinoviruses that circulate every year.
What the experts are saying about 2026 trends
Dr. Allison Arwady, former CDPH commissioner, and other local health leaders have frequently pointed out that our "immune debt" is largely paid up, but the viruses have become more efficient. We are seeing a "longer tail" to the sick season. Instead of a sharp peak in January followed by a drop-off, the virus going around Chicago is lingering in a plateau.
There’s also the "norovirus" factor. If you’re seeing "stomach flu" sweeping through your office, that’s not actually influenza. That’s norovirus. It’s incredibly contagious and can live on surfaces like doorknobs and elevator buttons for days. Hand sanitizer doesn't actually kill norovirus very well; you need old-fashioned soap, water, and vigorous scrubbing to physically remove it from your skin.
Logistics: Getting care in the city
If you’re feeling the symptoms, the urge is to head to the ER. Don't. Unless you are having genuine trouble breathing or have a fever that won't break with meds, the ERs at places like Rush or UChicago Medicine are currently slammed.
- Urgent Care: Best for a quick flu/COVID/Strep swab.
- Telehealth: Most Chicago insurance plans (and even the city's public health initiatives) offer video visits. This keeps you on your couch and away from other sick people.
- City Clinics: The CDPH operates several clinics that offer free or low-cost vaccinations and testing if you’re uninsured.
Real talk on masks and social distancing
Nobody wants to hear it, but the high-quality N95 or KN95 masks actually work. If you’re on a crowded bus or at a show at the Salt Shed, throwing a mask on is the easiest way to ensure you don't spend your next weekend in bed. We’re seeing a lot of "asymptomatic shedding" right now, meaning people feel fine but are breathing out high viral loads.
Practical steps to stay upright
- Humidity is your friend. Run a humidifier in your bedroom. Chicago winters are notoriously dry. Keeping your throat and nose hydrated helps your body’s natural barriers stay intact.
- The 5-Day Rule. If it’s COVID, the current CDC guidance is still about staying home until your symptoms are improving and you’re fever-free for 24 hours without meds. But honestly? If you’re sick with anything, stay home. Chicago’s "hustle culture" isn't worth a week of lost productivity for your entire team.
- Upgrade your Zinc. There’s some evidence that starting zinc acetate lozenges within 24 hours of the first symptom can shorten the duration of a cold.
- Ventilation. If you’re hosting people, crack a window. Even an inch. The airflow helps dilute any viral particles hanging in the stagnant indoor air.
- Check the wastewater. If you’re a data nerd, check the CDPH Wastewater Dashboard. It’s the most "honest" look at what’s actually moving through the city because it doesn't rely on people reporting their home tests.
The reality of living in a world-class city like Chicago is that we live on top of each other. We share the same air in the "L," the same coffee shops in Logan Square, and the same offices in the West Loop. When one person gets a bug, the city's density does the rest. Take the rest when you need it, hydrate more than you think you should, and don't ignore a lingering cough that moves into your chest.