The number of flu cases has sharply increased this flu season in Missouri, as it has across the whole country. With 639 new cases recorded in just one week, from December 10th to December 16th, most of them were influenza A strains, making up 63% of these cases. In Missouri, there have been a total of 6,585 cases of the flu this season. Of these, 61% were influenza A strains. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been keeping an eye on a national pattern of more flu cases and illnesses that go along with it.
At the same time, the country is also working to control the COVID-19 subvariant JN.1, which makes up 44.2% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. The good news is that the CDC has proven that current vaccines and tests work against this subvariant. They are still pushing for everyone aged six months and up to get a flu shot every year to help stop the spread. With all of these health problems, it’s clear that our healthcare services are under a lot of stress. More people are getting the flu, and COVID-19 is changing all the time. At the same time, diseases like dengue are becoming more common around the world. From 2000 to 2019, the number of cases of dengue increased ten times.
Over five million cases were reported around the world in 2023, with big jumps in the Americas. Our healthcare resources are being pushed to their limits by these simultaneous viral threats. This shows how important it is to have a strong healthcare infrastructure that can handle these kinds of scenarios. Getting vaccinated is the first thing that we can do to fight off dangerous diseases. They’re not just a personal choice when it comes to health; they’re also a smart way to make our healthcare systems stronger.
We can make our communities safer and hospitals and offices less busy by stopping illnesses before they start. During these tough times, it’s important to include vaccines in our overall health plans. This will protect the public’s health and allow healthcare providers to continue providing high-quality care without being overloaded with patients. Getting vaccinated is a very important way to protect healthcare systems from the effects of multiple virus breakouts. This role should never be taken lightly.