Twenty-Two Cases Of Flu Reported So Far In County

The flu season officially started September 29, and as of December 21, 2019, Missouri had seen 4,299 cases of flu.

Ste Genevieve County has reported 22 case of influenza this season with the majority being reported in December. The largest number of cases were reported in ages 5 through age 18. Information regarding the last week of December is still pending.

Missouri has reported seven flu-related deaths for the 2019-20 influenza season.

There have been no reported influenza related deaths in Ste Genevieve County as of December 21. There have been no reported localized outbreaks or school closures so far in Missouri.

Of the flu cases reported in Ste Genevieve County this year, 10 were type A cases and 12 were type B cases. Of the cases in Missouri, 1,641 cases were type A, 2,611 were type B, and 47 were untyped, according to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports.

Last year, the county had only 11 cases during the same period, according to Health Department records. In January of 2019, 291 influenza cases were reported in Ste Genevieve County.

“For those who haven’t already been vaccinated, it is important to know that it’s not too late,” said Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “We are approaching the peak of flu season, so now is still a great time to protect yourself and others around you by being vaccinated.”

Flu vaccine is still available at the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department on Basler Drive and is available for free for anyone unable to pay, or is without insurance.

(Information in a release from the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department.)