Flu hospitalizations in Missouri are still running high, and doctors say this season is hitting harder than usual.
In an update on Thursday, MU Health Care’s Dr. Amruta Padhye said one reason is that we’re dealing with a different strain of influenza this year.
“It’s called K clade of H3 N 2, and it’s something that we have not seen before,” said Padhye. “So again, population immunity for that strain is also low.”
According to the latest report from the State of Missouri released last week, there were over 4,800 reported cases.
And with cases on the rise, a lot of people are now asking: if you already had the flu recently — and even got the flu shot — should you still get vaccinated?
“I still recommend the influenza vaccine after recovery from that current illness, because we also see influenza b in this time of the year and we’ve seen low numbers of that,” said Padhye. “You can still get influenza whether it’s the same type of the other type, you know later in the season too.”
Padhye said some people face a bigger risk of complications with kids under five among the most vulnerable.
“The highest risk is for less than two-year-olds,” said Podhye. “So basically, infants who are very young and also children up to two years of age. But usually, it’s the young and the very old and those with underlying health conditions who are most at risk.”
Padhye cautions that the flu’s worst stretch could still be ahead, as cases in Missouri often rise again in February.
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