ST. CHARLES, MO (KMOX) - St. Charles County nearly doubled its influenza numbers last week for the entire season as an early and potentially dangerous flu season continues.

This is the earliest regular flu season we’ve had in nearly a decade, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

“The early nature of the cases, as well as the specific strings we are seeing, suggest this could be a bad flu year,” CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said.

As for the good news, Frieden said “about 90 percent” of flu cases are well matched with this year’s flu vaccine.

Last week, St. Charles County had 142 new cases, bringing it to a season total of 226. St. Louis City has had 327 cases and St. Louis County 701. The state of Missouri reports 2,088 cases, nearly nine times more than the five-season median for this time of year.