SAINT LOUIS COUNTY, MO - The peak of the flu season is approaching and now is the time to get vaccinated, health officials say.
"Catch the holiday spirit - not the flu" said Dr. Dolores Gunn, director of the Saint Louis County Department of Health.
"Unlike some previous years, there is a plentiful supply of vaccine and there have not been any reports of long waits for people to get a shot," Gunn said.
Even though it is early in the season, the number of cases is up, compared to the same period last year. This year, there have been 99 laboratory confirmed, reported cases since the season started, compared to 23 at this time last year. Laboratory confirmed cases represent only a small percentage of the total number of cases in the community. However, they are a useful indicator of both when the flu season has arrived and which age groups are most affected.
Annual variations are normal, but since it appears that the flu season has arrived early this year, health department officials are urging people to go get their flu shot if they have not already done so.
Each year in the United States, between 5 and 20 percent of the population is infected with influenza, about 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of influenza complications.
There are other steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting the flu
* Try to keep a distance of three feet away from others.* Always cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve* Wash your hands frequently, especially after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose* Stay home if you are ill
Information on where to get a flu shot is available by calling (314) 918-9090. |
