New SC flu cases surge nearly twice as high in a week. See which counties have it the worst

Patrick McCreless

The number of new reported flu cases nearly doubled week-over-week in South Carolina, continuing a rising trend of widespread infections in multiple counties.

There were 6,101 flu cases reported in the state for the week of Oct. 30, the latest data from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control shows. That’s nearly double the previous week of 3,524 reported cases. It’s also seven times greater than the 788 cases reported the week of Oct. 2, the earliest data available for the current flu season.

There have been a total of 16,579 reported flu cases in the state this season as of the week of Oct. 30.

The latest data also indicates that 12.7% of patient visits to healthcare providers were for flu-like illness, which was above the state’s 3.6% baseline — the flu-like illness activity level overall was high, DHEC says. During the previous week, 10.8% of visits were above the state’s baseline.

There were 246 flu-associated hospitalizations reported by 46 hospitals. There have been 670 such hospitalizations reported so far this flu season, the data shows.

So far this season, there have been 10 flu-associated deaths reported in the state. Of those, four were in the Midlands, five were in the Low Country and one was in Pee Dee.

South Carolina isn’t alone with an earlier-than-usual upsurge in flu cases. The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that “early increases in seasonal flu activity continue nationwide. The southeastern and south-central areas of the country are reporting the highest lees of activity.”

Here are all the counties that reported flu activity above the state baseline for the week of Oct. 30.

  • Oconee

  • Pickens

  • Greenville

  • Spartanburg

  • Anderson

  • York

  • Laurens

  • Newberry

  • Edgefield

  • Lexington

  • Richland

  • Kershaw

  • Sumter

  • Orangeburg

  • Colleton

  • Charleston

  • Jasper

  • Chesterfield

  • Darlington

  • Florence

  • Dillon

  • Horry

DHEC and the CDC 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.

Take these steps daily to reduce the impacts of respiratory illnesses on yourself, your loved ones and the state’s hospitals.

  • Wash your hands often

  • Cover your cough or sneeze

  • Wear a mask if you are most at risk

  • Stay home and away from others when sick

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