Flu season picking up in mid-Missouri

According to the Missouri Department Department of Health and Senior Services, 305 people have tested positive for influenza in the state as of Nov. 19.

Of those confirmed flu cases, 50 percent were type A, 45 percent were type B and 5 percent were considered untyped.

“It’s hard to predict what will happen whether we get a wave of A, a wave of B, a wave of both, or even possibly a wave of neither one,” said Dr. Michael Cooperstock, the medical director of the Infectious Control Department at MU Health. “This year, it looks like the vaccine has matched up almost perfectly with the strains that are circulating, so we’re not going to have one of those years of mismatch.”

Right now, the flu activity in Missouri is considered sporadic or low, according to the CDC. 275 cases of the flu were reported at this time last year.

So far Boone County has seen 22 cases of influenza since the beginning of October. Of those, 13 cases were type B and 9 were type A.

“It just so happens in our area we saw influenza B first, which is a little unusual compared to the rest of the country this year,” said Dr. Cooperstock.

He said it’s also difficult to predict when the flu will peak. Dr. Cooperstock suggests getting a flu shot if you haven’t already been vaccinated.

“As early as two weeks from now we might be seeing an upsurge. Since the vaccine takes about two weeks to kick in, we are sort of at the last minute,” he said. “The sooner the better even if you delay it.”

No deaths have resulted from the flu in Missouri so far this flu season.