Flu Season Hits St. Charles County, SSM St. Joseph Prepares

SSM St. Joseph Health Center was the first SSM Health Care facility to see a case of the flu this fall, a press release states.

St. Joseph treated its first flu patient of the season Sept. 30. Two other patients were treated at the hospital this October.

Infection Control Coordinator Becky Clapper said the first case of flu is a signal to other hospitals to start preparing for flu season.

“We like to know when first case is identified so the others can be prepared to see influenza starting in the area,” Clapper said.

Clapper said all three patients were admitted to the emergency wing, but were all discharged in a short amount of time.

SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton has had six confirmed cases of flu, while SSM St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis has not yet had a flu patient this season.

This year, SSM Health Centers are trying to keep their employees flu free as well.

In July, authorities at SSM Health Care facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles counties implemented a new policy to vaccinate all health care workers against the flu.

Clapper said St. Joseph hopes to finish administering employee flu vaccines by the end of this month.

You can use the Flu Vaccine Finder to find out where to get your flu shot this season. Residents can also find out more about how to stave off the flu on SSM’s Flu HQ website.