The Illinois Department of Public Health says the number of reported new H1N1 cases decreased for the sixth consecutive week.
The department says in Illinois two people died and 99 were hospitalized with the virus over the past week.
Spokeswoman Melaney Arnold says doctors aren’t sure why the flu numbers are going down.
ARNOLD: Flu is very unpredictable. We believe this is part of the second wave, and it is decreasing across not only Illinois but around the country as well.
Arnold says doctors are hoping to prevent a third wave of the virus from spreading by encouraging the public to get vaccinated.
She says federal supplies of the vaccine should be able to keep pace with demand at Illinois clinics. The Centers for Disease Control reports a seven-week decline in H1N1 cases nationwide.