This report includes data on both influenza and COVID for Week 49. Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) monitors influenza and other respiratory pathogens, including COVID-19, throughout Jefferson County, Missouri.
JCHD conducts influenza surveillance using passive surveillance and syndromic surveillance. Although influenza illness can occur year-round, the seasonal influenza reporting begins on the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Week 40 of a given year and continues through MMWR Week 20 of the following calendar year.
COVID-19 surveillance began in March 2020 and has been ongoing. COVID-19 data reflects cases that are entered into Missouri’s communicable disease database. Vaccination data for COVID-19 is reported to the Jefferson County Health Department weekly by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MO DHSS). All data and information are conditional and may change as more reports are received.
Week 49 Respiratory Report: 2021_Week49_JCHDRespiratoryReport.pdf (squarespace.com)
COVID19 Data Dashboard: COVID-19 Data — Jefferson County Health Department (jeffcohealth.org)
As the holiday season approaches, JCHD encourages individuals to follow respiratory illness prevention measures. These include frequent handwashing especially before eating or serving food, wear a mask, communicate with friends and family about the safety precaution you are taking, and get vaccinated against the flu COVID if possible. For more information visit: Holiday Tips (cdc.gov)
Influenza Summary:
This week, an additional 65 flu cases were reported to JCHD for a total of 125 cases so far this season. We did receive some back dated flu cases from STL county which is why the total cases from week 48 increased since the last report. It is common for us to receive slightly delayed reports of cases from Jefferson County residents who were tested at a facility outside of our jurisdiction. Flu A cases are starting to pick up this year. We will watch the next few weeks’ data closely to analyze if we are going to be experiencing an earlier peak than usual. No influenza associated deaths have been reported in the county as of Week 49.
COVID-19 Summary:
This week the county remains in the RED/highest transmission level with a weekly case count of 855 confirmed and probable cases. Our weekly number of Covid cases decreased just slightly from Week 48 to Week 49, but the overall total number of cases for the last 7 days remains high. 20.7% of the cases from Week 49 came from the 0–19-year age group. The weekly positivity rate decreased slightly from 15.37% in Week 48 to 14.5% in Week 49.
Of the 855 new cases reported in Week 49, 75.9% were unvaccinated. 51.53% of Jefferson County residents have initiated COVID vaccination, while 46.48% have completed the full series. The percentage of residents who have received a third dose or booster vaccine is 11.29%.
Total Cases: 36,780
Total Deaths: 371
4 additional deaths since last report, 2 community based, 2 LTCF based
Male, 60’s
Female, 70’s
Male, 80’s
Female, 90’s