How Bad Is The Flu In Missouri Right Now?

There's been talk that this could be a rough flu season. So how bad is the flu right now in Missouri?

According to an infographic shared by the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services dated October 29, 2022. Not that bad actually. Their infographic showing how flu-like illnesses progressed throughout America shows Missouri at the threshold of moderate flu-like illness activity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Influenza activity continues to increase. Regions 4 (Southeast) and 6 (South-Central) are reporting the highest levels of flu activity, followed by regions 3 (Mid-Atlantic) and 9 (south-central West Coast)." This is from their weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report updated today, November 10, 2022.

Their report also says there have already been 2.8 million illnesses this season and the cumulative hospitalization rate from the flu is higher than the rate observed this week during every previous season since 2010-2011.

This information correlates nicely with the map that the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services shared on its Facebook page.

If you think you're experiencing the flu, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services suggests checking with your primary care doctor, pharmacy, urgent care facility, or local health department to see if they're offering tests for the flu. Why? Because Antiviral drugs can help you feel better and knock the flu out of you, but they work best when started one to two days after your flu symptoms begin.

Some of the best ways to keep the flu from running through your household according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services:

Avoid close contact with anyone who has the flu.
Wash your hands and surfaces to kill the flu virus.
Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing, so the droplets you expel won't transmit the flu.
Keep your kids home when they're sick.
Get your yearly flu vaccine.

For more on the flu, you can check out the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Facebook page, and the CDC website.

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