Missouri one of three states experiencing moderate flu levels
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The holiday festivities may be over, but the flu continues to linger in Missouri.
This flu season Missouri has seen a total of 13,675 reported cases, with 63% attributed to Influenza A. Between December 24th and December 30th alone, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services recorded 1,741 cases, with 64% being Influenza A.
During that same week, Boone County reported 146 COVID-19 cases and 110 flu cases. Overall, as of Week 52, Boone County has tallied 1,240 COVID-19 cases and 668 flu cases.
Dr. Laura Morris from MU Health Care attributes the spike in cases to the holiday season, emphasizing the anticipated increase in respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
"Well, I think we've seen exactly what we thought was going to happen, which is with all of the holiday cheer and all the holiday gatherings, we have spread some germs amongst each other. And we are seeing the expected uptick in our respiratory illness, both COVID, Influenza, and to some extent RSV," said Morris.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that Missouri is currently undergoing moderate levels of flu activity, with similar spikes observed in South Dakota and Virginia.
In contrast, the southern states, including Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, New Mexico, Alabama, and even the northern state of New York, with a significant surge in flu cases, according to the CDC.
Dr. Morris reassures that the hospital is well-prepared to handle the rising illnesses. She notes that the flu season aligns with expectations, with older patients at the highest risk, but there's a demographic shift with younger patients also being seriously impacted.
"Over time COVID has behaved more as we would expect with the oldest patients still at the higest risk and for influenza, it's the oldest patients. But there's another swing to the demographic with the youngest patients being seriously impacted as well," said Morris.
Dr. Morris strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated for protection against these diseases.
