SC sees widespread flu activity, DHEC says. Here are the counties where it’s the worst
Widespread flu activity has been reported in South Carolina recently, state health officials say.
There were 1,083 lab-confirmed flu tests reported the week of Oct. 15, the latest data available, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. There have been 2,048 total lab-confirmed flu tests this season so far.
The data shows that 4.3% of patient visits to healthcare providers were for flu-like illness, which is above the state’s 3.6% baseline — the flu-like illness activity level overall was high, DHEC says.
Also for the week of Oct. 15, there were 41 flu-associated hospitalizations reported by 38 hospitals. There have been 80 such hospitalizations so far this flu season.
To date, only one flu-associated death has been reported in the state so far this season.
Here are all the counties that reported flu activity above the state baseline for the week of Oct. 15.
- Greenville
- Newberry
- Edgefield
- Lexington
- Richland
- Orangeburg
- Horry
- Colleton
- Charleston
- Jasper
- Beaufort
DHEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone 6 months old and older get vaccinated against the flu. Vaccination to prevent flu is particularly important for people who are at increased risk of complications from the virus, including young children, adults aged 50 years and older, pregnant women and people with certain chronic medical conditions, DHEC says.
For details on where to get flu shots in South Carolina, click here.
This story was originally published October 24, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
