Commonground
Senior Moderator
[emphasis is mine]
1/7/26
Kansas City News Releases
Flu Cases Surge in Kansas City
Health Officials Urge Vaccination
For immediate release: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Influenza activity is climbing sharply in Kansas City. The latest data shows a significant increase in reported cases. For the week of December 21–27, 2025, influenza cases doubled compared to the previous week, marking the fourth-highest weekly total in the past 15 years.
Data from the Kansas City Health Department’s Communicable Disease Prevention team show that reported Flu cases in Kansas City, Missouri, far exceed the overall population rate of 199 cases per 100,000. Children ages 4 and under are currently the most affected group, with case rates of 728 per 100,000 for ages 0–4 and 535 per 100,000 for ages 5–14. Young adults (15–24) also show elevated rates at 240 cases per 100,000. “It is crucial that we take preventive measures to keep our loved ones, friends, and community safe. This includes staying at home from work, school, and social gatherings when sick. Our health impacts everything in our daily lives, including the ability to go to work, school, family functions, and so many other aspects of life,” says Dr. Marvia Jones, Director of Health for the Kansas City Health Department.
-snip-
Vaccination remains the best protection. Everyone aged 6 months and older should get a flu shot. Vaccines are safe and effective, with billions of doses administered in the U.S. over decades and serious adverse events remaining rare.
A Kansas City Health Department Epidemiologist encourages the community to take simple preventive measures to prevent the spread of the flu, such as washing hands to maintain good hand hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable Kleenex or your arm, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, and staying home while sick. Individuals can seek medical care to test for the flu and determine whether antiviral medications can be prescribed. [TABLE="cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
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[TD]Get your flu shot today:
Clinic Hours:
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(except on holidays)
Please check in by 4:30 p.m.
The Health Department will close at 1 PM on the 4th Thursday of each month for staff development.
About the Kansas City Health Department
The Kansas City Health Department works to protect and improve the health of all Kansas City residents through prevention, education, community outreach, and strategic partnerships. Learn more at kcmo.gov/health.
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[TD]Find this release in multiple languages at kcmo.gov/news
Media with questions may contact April Leonard, Public Information Officer for the Kansas City Health Department, at April.Leonard@kcmo.org.[/TD]
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https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2832/231
1/7/26
Kansas City News Releases
Flu Cases Surge in Kansas City
Health Officials Urge Vaccination
For immediate release: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Influenza activity is climbing sharply in Kansas City. The latest data shows a significant increase in reported cases. For the week of December 21–27, 2025, influenza cases doubled compared to the previous week, marking the fourth-highest weekly total in the past 15 years.
Data from the Kansas City Health Department’s Communicable Disease Prevention team show that reported Flu cases in Kansas City, Missouri, far exceed the overall population rate of 199 cases per 100,000. Children ages 4 and under are currently the most affected group, with case rates of 728 per 100,000 for ages 0–4 and 535 per 100,000 for ages 5–14. Young adults (15–24) also show elevated rates at 240 cases per 100,000. “It is crucial that we take preventive measures to keep our loved ones, friends, and community safe. This includes staying at home from work, school, and social gatherings when sick. Our health impacts everything in our daily lives, including the ability to go to work, school, family functions, and so many other aspects of life,” says Dr. Marvia Jones, Director of Health for the Kansas City Health Department.
-snip-
Vaccination remains the best protection. Everyone aged 6 months and older should get a flu shot. Vaccines are safe and effective, with billions of doses administered in the U.S. over decades and serious adverse events remaining rare.
A Kansas City Health Department Epidemiologist encourages the community to take simple preventive measures to prevent the spread of the flu, such as washing hands to maintain good hand hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable Kleenex or your arm, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, and staying home while sick. Individuals can seek medical care to test for the flu and determine whether antiviral medications can be prescribed. [TABLE="cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD] [TABLE="cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]Get your flu shot today:
- Free for eligible individuals
- Insurance billed with proof of coverage
- $37 for self-pay (cash or credit)
Clinic Hours:
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(except on holidays)
Please check in by 4:30 p.m.
The Health Department will close at 1 PM on the 4th Thursday of each month for staff development.
About the Kansas City Health Department
The Kansas City Health Department works to protect and improve the health of all Kansas City residents through prevention, education, community outreach, and strategic partnerships. Learn more at kcmo.gov/health.
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[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD] [TABLE="cellpadding: 0, cellspacing: 0"]
[TR]
[TD]Find this release in multiple languages at kcmo.gov/news
Media with questions may contact April Leonard, Public Information Officer for the Kansas City Health Department, at April.Leonard@kcmo.org.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
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https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2832/231
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