Three Missourians already have died from the flu this fall.
If you approach things analytically, you might realize that's about a one in 2 million people in our state. That's pretty good odds of survival. (Although, statistically, you would have died nearly 150 times over before winning Powerball, but that's for another editorial.)
But the odds you will suffer from the flu, of course, are much higher. And the flu season is in its early stages. We've got a long way to go before flu season ends, typically at the end of spring.
As we recently reported, the seasonal flu already has hit much of the southern United States.
Data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' most recent surveillance report show officials verified through laboratory testing that 264 new cases of influenza had been identified.
Of those, 104 were the influenza A strain and 159 were influenza B, with one that did not receive a type. The data are for the week ending Nov. 30.
Officials verified 16 new cases (nine influenza A and seven influenza B) in Cole County during the week ending Nov. 30. It had two the previous week and four the week before that. Flu season officially began with the week ending Oct. 6. In that time, Cole County has found 24 cases of influenza A and 14 of influenza B, according to county health officials.
Statistics aside, we urge you to get your annual flu shot, if you haven't already. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone ages 6 months and older gets a flu shot, with rare exceptions.
Investing a little time to get it done has the potential to save you both time and money. It can reduce flu illnesses, doctors' visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations, according to the CDC.
Flu shots are never 100 percent effective. But getting one is a small investment that will give you, your family and your whole community better odds of staying healthy.
News Tribune