MU Health reports over 100 positive flu cases in a week
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.)
MU Health Care says it is seeing an influx of patients who have the flu as the weather gets colder.
MU Health Care says more than 100 of its patients tested positive with the flu in the past week -- more than the total for all of last flu season. Those cases have not yet been reported in state numbers.
Columbia and Boone County reported 108 new flu cases between Nov. 14 and Nov. 20.
MU doctor Christelle Ilboudo says were seeing an increase this year because more people feel comfortable traveling.
Ilboudo said while the flu is still a threat she feels COVID 19 is more dangerous.
"If we continue to have unvaccinated people who are getting infected, we could hit mutation just like delta or worse. Then we'll negate the work that we just did with the vaccination. But when we talk about influenza we have centuries of data on influenza so we know the variant." Ilboudo said.
State officials reported 117 new cases between the end of October and Nov. 13, the most recent data available. Missouri had recorded 331 cases since the start of the season last month, according to the data. That number was 312 at about the same time last flu season.
S-S-M Health Saint Mary's Hospital says only two new flu cases came in over the weekend. Lenora Adams a doctor who works at the hospital says although cases are low right now she encourages people to get their vaccine because this is only the beginning of flu season.
"And then if you do develop symptoms go ahead and get checked right away because we do have medications to treat the flu but they need to be started within the first 48 hours from when you develop symptoms. So that's a really short time window. So we need to identify it and get the treatment started as soon as possible." Adams said.
Cases this season are so far being seen in higher rates in infants and toddlers, according to the state data. The state's central region has the second-highest infection rate this season, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Health officials across the country have worried about a "twindemic" this season, with coronavirus and flu both active and people spending more time indoors as the weather worsens. They've encouraged the public to get the coronavirus and flu vaccines to protect themselves and others.
The state health department says new cases were reported in several Mid-Missouri counties from Nov. 7-13, including Boone, Cole, Cooper, Moniteau, Callaway and Randolph.
Health departments across the area are offering flu shots and holding shot clinics. The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services has held several community clinics and in-school vaccination clinics to increase the number of vaccinated residents.
