KMBC: Doctors say Kansas City seeing spike of flu cases after Chiefs Super Bowl victory

Doctors say a recent jump in flu cases across the metro may be a side effect of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win, with people in large groups, sharing food, and traveling.

The flu season hit early this year, and doctors have seen a steady number of cases with two noticeable spikes after the holidays and after the Chiefs' big victory.

"Because everybody had those Super Bowl parties and everybody traveled and everybody gets all this exposure just like it's a holiday," Dr. Stephanie Davis, an emergency medicine physician at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, told KMBC.

Dr. Davis said there is some good news, however. Even though flu cases are up locally, severity is down as milder symptoms mean fewer hospitalizations.

Watch KMBC's full story below.

Related Content

Jan. 7, 2020

KCTV: Nearly 2,000 flu cases confirmed in Kansas City
Doctors across the metro are seeing an earlier spike in flu cases than in recent years past. KCTV talked to Dr. Todd Hayes about how to best protect yourself from the virus.
FOX 4 News. New at Noon. Protecting yourself against the flu. Kansas City, MO
Dec. 27, 2019

FOX4: Health officials see rise in flu cases across Kansas City
The U.S. is experiencing the earliest flu season in 15 years, and local health officials are seeing a rise in the number of cases. FOX4 talked to Dr. Ryan Gallagher about how to protect yourself and when you should go to the hospital.