Flu continues ‘widespread activity’ across South Carolina, 10 deaths reported
Cases of the flu are increasing across South Carolina faster than the state has seen in recent years for this early in the season, public health officials said.
The state reported the 10th flu-related death of the year in the most recent report on the virus from the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
For the fifth week in a row the state reported “widespread activity” of the virus, with increases seen across South Carolina.
As of last week, 311 people have been hospitalized for the flu, well above the average 220 for this early in the season, DHEC data shows.
Flu activity has been high across much of the South, public health data shows.
The flu season began on Sept. 29. People 65 and over have accounted for most of the hospitalizations, but 26 children under 5 have also been admitted to the hospital.
Most of the deaths have been in the Upstate, where six people have died from influenza-related causes. The Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions each reported two deaths, according to DHEC data released Wednesday.
Nationally, public health officials estimate there have been 2.6 million flu cases so far this season, with 23,000 people admitted to a hospital and 1,300 deaths.
Most cases nationally and in South Carolina have been the influenza B strain, “which is unusual for this time of year,” the CDC said. Nationally, the most cases have been from the influenza B/Victoria viruses.
South Carolina did not determine the exact lineage of the influenza B cases, DHEC data shows.
It’s not too late to get a flu shot in South Carolina. See the DHEC website for information on where to get a flu shot.
