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Two Michigan children had suspected cases of a rare, severe form of hepatitis that's now believed to have sickened at least 109 kids in the U.S. and may be linked to adenovirus infection.  Both Michigan children were younger than 5. One was from Oakland County and the other from the city of Detroit, said Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the state health department. One child was sickened in October, Sutfin said; she couldn't provide details about the timing of the second suspected Michigan case.   More:Free, reduced-cost school meals to continue for eligible Michigan families More:For kids with autism, getting the COVID-19 vaccine isn't as simple as a shot in the arm The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating both cases as part of a national look at this mysteriou...

Michigan agriculture and wildlife experts said Friday highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in at least nine Michigan counties in the past two months, most recently in a non-commercial backyard poultry flock from Oakland County. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory said while cooler temperatures and damp conditions continue, the risk for disease remains high and bird owners should take steps to protect their flocks. HPAI is viewed as a highly contagious virus that can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. To protect other flocks in Michigan, the Oaklan...

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois reported 7,709 new COVID cases and 7 deaths Friday as the CDC said 9 Chicago-area counties have reached a "medium" risk of transmission. There have been at least 3,169,315 total COVID cases as of Friday, including at least 33,660 related deaths in the state since the pandemic began. As of Thursday night, 808 patients in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 66 patients were in the ICU, and 24 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators. A total of 22,018,536 vaccine doses have been administered in Illinois as of Thursday, and 64.76% of the state's population is fully vaccinated. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 14,163. Ahead of a busy weekend of Mother's Day celebrations, officials are urging people t...