As of March 3rd, there have been 10 reported cases of chicken pox at Principia School, a private K-12 boarding school in Town and Country. The first case was found in February. After the second case was found, all students who were not vaccinated or did not have proof of immunity were asked to stay home for at least three weeks. Teachers are working on remote work plans for these students. Principia School is actively working with St Louis County Department of Public Health to avoid further spread.

Nationally, flu rates are falling but Missouri remains one of six states with “very high” flu activity. Among seasonal flu cases in Missouri, 52% are influenza A and 47% are influenza B as of February 14th, 2026. The symptoms of flu A and flu B are very similar, and tests are needed to tell which type it is. Flu B evolves more slowly than flu A and tends to peak later in the season. The flu vaccine is designed to provide some protection against both flu A and B. Other preventative steps include frequent handwashing and disinfecting shared surfaces.

On March 9th, 2026, the USDA recalled 16 frozen chicken fried rice, pork fried rice, ramen, and shu mai dumpling products sold under the brand names Ajinomoto, Kroger, Ling Ling, Tai Pei and Trader Joe’s. The products may be contaminated with glass shards and should be discarded or returned. This recall was updated to include all included lot numbers of these products regardless of expiration dates. The products have establishment numbers P-18356, P-18356B, or P-47971 inside the USDA mark of inspection. For a full list of recalled items, visit FSIS.gov.

The number of adults under 50 diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) has almost doubled every decade for 20 years. Researchers are trying to understand why. Gut bacteria could be to blame. A 2025 study found that a toxin produced by E. Coli bacteria in the gut is connected to earlier CRC cases. The toxin causes DNA mutations (damage), usually in childhood (before age 10), that can increase the risk of colorectal cancer in adulthood. Another theory, links gut bacteria that produce hydrogen-sulfide gas, which creates a “rotten-egg” smell, to CRC. These changes to gut bacteria (the gut microbiome) are not fully understood and likely have many causes including diets high in fat, sugar, or meat, and exposure to certain strains of E. Coli bacteria.

Six homes in Florissant, MO on Cades Cove Dr are in the process of being torn down by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reach contaminated soil underneath them. The soil is contaminated with radioactive material that was used to build nuclear bombs for World War II. The homeowners were compensated for being relocated, although the amount they received is not publicly available. After the homes are torn down, soil will be excavated from each site over the course of one year. The homes are near Coldwater Creek, which is known to be contaminated with radioactive material. This is the first time nationally people have been forced to relocate for remediation.