influenza

The St. Cloud V.A. has made an operations update as of Tuesday going to universal masking due to the amount of influenza and RSV illness in the community. St. Cloud V.A. Spokesperson Jackie Stevenson says they are doing their part to control influenza, COVID-19 and RSV.

The St. Cloud area is seeing a spike in influenza cases. That according to CentraCare spokesman Dr. George Morris. He says it isn't uncommon to see cases increase shortly after the holidays with a normal peak coming in late January/early February.

The CDC recommends preventing a 'Twin-demic' again this year by getting a flu shot during the ongoing COVIAD-19 pandemic.

Good news (not), if you've gotten the flu this season -- you're not immune to getting it again. That's because there are different strains, and having one doesn't prevent you from getting another; and neither does the vaccine necessarily. Getting a flu shot is still recommended because it does protect to a certain degree.