The number of swine flu cases in Illinois has increased to 90 probable cases and nine confirmed cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Of those, officials are reporting five confirmed cases in Chicago and 29 probable cases, while suburban Cook County has another 29 probable cases, but no confirmed cases, marking Cook County with the highest number of cases in the state, according to the IDPH Web site.
A confirmed case is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed infection. A probable case is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who is positive for influenza A, but negative for the more common H1 and H3 strains, the IDPH said.
DuPage County is reporting its first confirmed case, while Kane County has two confirmed cases and McHenry County one.
As of 10 a.m. Monday, the number of probable Illinois cases include: Chicago (29), Cook County outside of Chicago (29), DuPage County (11), DeKalb County (1), Kane County (9), Will County (7), Lake County (1), Sangamon County (1), Kendall County (1), Winnebego County (1) the IDPH said.
All of the Chicago Public Schools on Monday initiated a new policy, asking anyone coughing or with a fever of 100 degrees or high to stay home for seven days.
A hotline has been set up to let residents access information about the H1N1 flu from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The phones will be staffed by volunteers, and operators will answer basic, non-medical questions related to the outbreak at (866) 848-2094.
Look at our Interactive Map for flu cases elsewhere in the country.
