We have a bit of a flu theme today, with updates on avian flu in area wildlife and rising numbers of respiratory illnesses among local residents. Here’s what else you need to know this Wednesday morning.
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A dead merganser, seen on the Chicago lakefront, Feb. 1, 2025. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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Michele DiBernardo has started carrying garbage bags and rubber gloves in her coat pockets during her morning walks along the Chicago lakefront just in case she comes across more dead birds. Over the weekend, DiBernardo picked up six dead mergansers at Oak Street Beach, responding to multiple reports on social media of hundreds of dead birds washing up on beaches all along the lakeshore, likely suffering from bird flu. An experienced rescuer with Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, DiBernardo is no stranger to encountering injured, sick or dead birds. But the current outbreak of avian influenza is like nothing she's ever experienced.
What’s happening: Avian influenza has been circulating in wild birds since the late 1990s, with some strains deadlier than others. The latest strain, which broke out in 2021-22, is what's known as “highly pathogenic," meaning it causes severe disease and has high mortality rates. Death typically occurs within 48 hours.
What’s different now: Where a 2015 outbreak was largely contained among waterfowl, which have long been identified as reservoirs for avian influenza, this new strain has been “unique and devastating” in its spread and the variety of species affected, said Dr. Stephany Lewis, director of the wildlife medical clinic at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The number of affected mammalian species has also mushroomed, according to Lewis.
In addition to expected scavengers like foxes and raccoons, herds of cattle have been infected, cats are known to be particularly vulnerable, and marine mammals — including dolphins off the U.S. coasts and even a sea lion at Lincoln Park Zoo — have succumbed, she said. “It's really far-reaching,” Lewis said. “And it doesn't seem to be going away. It's not behaving the way it normally does.”
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Mayor Brandon Johnson (far right) speaks at a news conference on Feb. 4, 2025. (Heather Cherone / WTTW News)
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Mayor Brandon Johnson declined on Tuesday to immediately block those who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol from working in city jobs after most were pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Johnson’s decision not to prevent those convicted of attacking the Capitol as part of an effort to overturn the 2020 election comes days after Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is also a Democrat, directed state hiring officials to block the employment of anyone who took part in the attack that claimed the life of five members of the U.S. Capitol Police and injured an additional 174 officers.
Pritzker directed the state’s Department of Central Management Services, the state’s primary hiring authority, to restrict hiring of those who took part in the attack on the Capitol by declaring they had taken part in “infamous and disgraceful conduct that is antithetical to the mission of the state.”
After commending Pritzker for issuing that order and calling it the “right thing to do,” Johnson said only that he was prepared to have “conversations about how we make sure that the best and the brightest individuals show up and work for our government.”
“We have not made any, you know, decisions around any particular group that we would consider restricting,” Johnson said at his weekly news conference. “What I will say is that our standard for public service has to remain high because the people in Chicago have to be able to trust the people who show up every day on their behalf have their best interests at heart.”
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(Inside Creative House / iStock)
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The overall respiratory illness level is “high” in Illinois and the Chicago area, driven by an increase in emergency department visits and hospital admissions for flu, according to dashboards from Chicago Department of Public Health and Illinois Department of Public Health.
“Flu continues to circulate widely across Illinois,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in a Monday news release.
Statewide, there were about five times as many emergency department visits for flu as there were for COVID-19 statewide, according to IDPH data during the week ending Jan. 25. Chicago saw similar numbers during that time period, according to a CDPH respiratory illness dashboard.
People over 65, very young children, individuals with chronic disease and those who are immunocompromised are most at risk of severe illness from flu and other respiratory illnesses.
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More From WTTW News
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Winter weather is on the way. Ice glazing will make for treacherous conditions on roads and sidewalks, right around the timing of Wednesday’s evening commute.
A lawsuit filed by a man who spent more than 29 years in prison after being tortured, wrongfully convicted, is set for trial.
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Back in the Day: February 5, 1970 - Chicago Seven Defendants Taunt Judge
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The Trial of the Chicago 7 gripped the city and the nation 55 years ago. Seven defendants, Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Lee Weiner, were charged by the Justice Department with conspiracy, crossing state lines with intent to incite a riot, and other charges related to their anti-Vietnam War demonstrations during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. On this day, February 5, in 1970, proceedings got particularly heated. According to the New
York Times, Judge Julius J. Hoffman cut off a defense attorney in the middle of his argument for the release of one of the seven defendants from jail. When the judge defended his actions, defendant Abbie Hoffman tore into him. “Your idea of justice is the only obscenity in this court, Julie,” Hoffman shouted. Jerry Rubin, another defendant, resumed the onslaught. “You're the laughingstock of the world,” he said. “Every kid in the world hates you because they know what you represent. You are synonymous with Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler equals Julius Hitler.” While each defendant would be sentenced to five years in prison, an Appeals panel would reverse all of the criminal convictions.
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Local Live Music Recommendations for Feb. 5- Feb. 11
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Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Thursday, February 6:
Jessica Lee Mayfield, Margaux at Schubas. Tickets.
Two excellent songwriters. Get there early for New York’s Margaux.
Friday, February 7:
Toro Y Moi, Panda Bear, Nourished by Time at Salt Shed. Tickets.
If you perused MP3 blogs in 2010, this is the show for you.
Saturday, February 8:
Liam Kazar, Fran at Fitzgerald's. Tickets.
Though this songwriter who tours with Kevin Morby and Sam Evian lives in New York now, he’s a born and raised Chicagoan.
Sleeper's Bell, Henry True, Tara Firma, Leo Paterniti at Hideout. Tickets.
The Chicago indie rock band is releasing a new album called “Clover” Friday.
Sunday, February 9:
Cupcakke, J Bambii at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
The Chicago rapper brings her raunchy and danceable rap songs to Ukrainian Village.
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Chicago Restaurant Week is here until Sunday. What is your favorite memory of trying out a local
restaurant? Tell us where and what you ordered.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Exploring the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
And we sit down with actress and singer Keke Palmer to talk about her new movie and her Illinois roots.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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