Beware a Nasty Flu Bug Spreading in Parts of Missouri Right Now

It started anecdotally where I began to see friends in Missouri complaining about a nasty flu bug that has knocked them down for days. Now, I'm seeing reports across the state indicating that something is going on.

When it comes to the number of cases of flu, I don't feel comfortable sharing 3rd party sources since their data is questionable. Instead, I went directly to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services to see what numbers they had reported.

As of today, December 7, 2024, here is the Missouri map showing where flu cases are starting to spike.

According to the state of Missouri, there have been 259 cases of the flu reported just in the past week alone. For the entire season, they have seen 2,309 flu cases which is stunning.

There is some potential good news, though. Overall, the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services is classifying the current flu outbreak as below the baseline when it comes to emergency room visits.

Something to note, though. Many who are dealing with this flu will not take the time to report their illness to a state agency, so the numbers of flu cases in Missouri are almost certainly higher than the official state report.

Even without this data, this is the time of year to do all you can to protect yourself from viruses. You don't want the nasty one I'm seeing Missouri friends saying their dealing with. It's vicious.