MU Health Care and Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services are mobilizing for the upcoming flu season.
The Center Centers for Disease Control reported over 130,000 cases of the flu in Missouri last season. 2,500 of those cases were in central Missouri. MU Health Care Communications Specialist Caroline Dohack says this year will be unpredictable but the best way to prepare is to know the symptoms and get the flu shot.
“The first thing that we really stress is that people need to get the vaccine,” Dohack said. “A person can be infected with the flu virus for as long as a week before they even exhibit symptoms. So you might be feeling fine and exposing others to this virus.”
Symptoms include fever, muscle ache, fatigue and headaches. Various MU Health Care locations and Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services are offering flu vaccinations, including free vaccinations for students enrolled in Columbia Public Schools.