Flu claims eight lives so far in SC

The flu claimed the lives of at least eight South Carolinians as 2015 came to a close.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control reports that seven of the deaths occurred among those 65 and older, the group most at risk. The eighth person was in the 50-64 group.

Since the season began in October, at least 172 people were hospitalized with flu through Dec. 26, the agency said.

Of those hospitalized, 72 were 65 or older, while 44 occurred among the 50-64 age group.

But hospitalizations were reported among other age groups as well, including 25 in the 18-59 group, 23 among those four and younger, and eight among those 5-17, according to DHEC.

Flu season typically runs from October to March, peaking in February.

During the last flu season, there were 3,365 hospitalizations for flu and 156 deaths, three among children younger than 18.

Symptoms of flu include sudden onset of fever, headache, extreme fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Children may also have nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Between 3,000 and 49,000 people die from flu each year, depending on the severity of the season, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The very young, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

The vast majority of cases this season have been influenza A, with H1N1, also known as swine flu, the predominant strain circulating, DHEC reports. That strain is included in this year’s vaccine.

The H1N1 was predominant during the 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2013-14 seasons, according to DHEC. The H3N2 virus was predominant during 2012-13 and 2014-15.

CDC recommends flu shots for everyone 6 months and older. More than 143.3 million doses have been distributed so far.

“We typically see influenza in South Carolina peak around late-January or February, although the season peaked earlier last year,” said DHEC spokesman Jim Beasley. “It only proves the unpredictability of the flu, and now is not the time to let down our guard.”

Learn more at http://www.scdhec.gov/flu.

This story was originally published January 3, 2016 at 11:02 AM.