Health officials in Hays reported the state's first case of COVID and flu in a patient.
During Wednesday's online news conference, with more than a dozen chief medical officers from Kansas and Missouri, Dr. Heather Harris, chief medical officer at HaysMed, said that as of Tuesday night, the hospital had its first case of COVID and flu diagnosed in a patient.
(Click below to hear Dr. Harris comments)
The patient resides outside of Ellis County and had not been vaccinated for either the flu or COVID, Harris told Hays Post, noting Ellis County numbers are climbing and with at-home testing, officials are probably only seeing a portion of the positives.
"Vaccination is the best way to stay well," she said, also encouraging residents to stay home if they are sick.
Flurona refers to a patient with influenza and COVID at the same time. This patient was one of five in the ICU at Hays Medical Center. Israel reported one of the world's first dual cases last week, according to the Times of Israel.
Harris also said Hays Medical Center currently had 14 active COVID cases and nine recovering. Among the five in the ICU, three of were on ventilators.