Flu cases expected to keep rising
The vaccine will be offered until the supply is exhausted.
Feb. 8, 2008
(Click graphic to enlarge)
The Columbia/Boone County Health Department has seen an increase in reported influenza cases, a department news release stated on Thursday.
In order to slow the spread of influenza, the health department is offering the flu vaccine for free. The regular cost is $10.
“We want to offer it to anybody in the community to help delay the rise of the flu, but, also, we don’t want the vaccine to go to waste,” health department spokeswoman Deidre Wood said.
From October 2007 through Feb. 1, people reported approximately 100 influenza cases to the health department. The number of cases reported this week will not be available for a few days, Wood said.
“We’re expecting the numbers to continue to rise,” Wood said. “It seems like the flu is affecting everyone now.”
Wood said 52 of the 100 cases were reported within the last week and most of the cases involved students.
“The group the flu is affecting the most is people between 15 and 24,” she said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 36,000 people die from the flu each year.
“It is important for citizens to recognize symptoms of the flu and seek immediate health care if they think they have the flu,” the release stated.
Common symptoms of the flu include high fever, headaches, fatigue, body aches, coughing, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms usually have a very quick and immediate onset.
The Columbia/Boone County Health Department highly encourages citizens to be vaccinated to help prevent the flu. The health department will continue to offer the flu shot on a walk-in basis until the vaccine supply is exhausted.
The MU Student Health Center could not be reach for comment.
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