Flu cases on the rise

South Carolina well being officers say the state has seen greater than 100 occasions extra flu circumstances and almost 50 occasions extra hospitalizations than this time final 12 months.

The South Carolina Division of Well being and Environmental Management says this flu season is among the busiest lately nationally and in Palmetto State.

The newest Flu Watch weekly report from DHEC reveals 23,343 lab-confirmed circumstances, 1,003 hospitalizations and 11 deaths this season. At the moment of the earlier flu season, there have been solely 219 laboratory-confirmed circumstances, 21 hospitalizations and one demise.

Knowledge from the most recent flu surveillance report reveals that for the reason that 2016-2017 flu season, which dates again so far as the report goes, the state has not seen this variety of flu circumstances this early.

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The report additionally reveals that the next upstate counties are displaying above common flu circumstances this week: Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and Laurens.

Representatives of Prisma Well being and Bon Secours confirmed that they’ve seen this enhance in circumstances and hospitalizations mirrored regionally.

Dr Helmut Albrecht of Prisma Well being stated the final time he noticed so many circumstances was over a decade in the past.

“And that is once we had a 2009 H1N1, which was actually a brand new virus that we hadn’t seen in a long time. And that defined that. We haven’t any such clarification this 12 months,” Albrecht stated.

South Carolina joins Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia because the states with essentially the most flu circumstances within the nation, in keeping with DHEC.

Whereas current chilly snaps that despatched individuals indoors may have contributed, DHEC’s Dr. Jonathan Knoche stated 85% of unvaccinated South Carolinians underneath 65 are a extra possible offender.

“However I believe a part of that’s as a result of the youthful inhabitants might be bored with public well being measures,” he stated. “However public well being measures like vaccines work. So, as drained as you could be of listening to about vaccines and pictures, that does not make them any much less efficient.”

Through the pandemic, DHEC information reveals the state has seen flu circumstances plummet. Now Bon Secours’ Dr Surabhi Gaur has seen flu circumstances rise forward of their common leap after Christmas and the New 12 months. She stated older persons are experiencing extra hospitalizations.

“COVID precautions have been dropped and so they have been serving to to maintain the flu at bay,” Gaur stated. “So individuals aren’t masking up anymore. Individuals aren’t practising social distancing, possibly even getting somewhat lax available hygiene.”

In response to AAA of the Carolinas, 850,000 individuals plan to journey by means of South Carolina for Thanksgiving, greater than the 12 months earlier than the pandemic.

“I really feel like everybody I’ve spoken to is making up for misplaced time,” Gaur stated. “They usually’re having these massive conferences with 20, 30 individuals as a result of that is what they used to do.”

Each Prisma and Bon Secours are making ready for a possible enhance in circumstances a couple of week after Thanksgiving. Whether or not you are touring or not, docs advise you to get your flu shot as quickly as attainable, wash your arms, and think about masking up and social distancing in giant teams, particularly if somebody is sick or recovering.

In response to Knoche, there is no such thing as a indication that this flu pressure is extra lethal or extra aggressive, nonetheless, it may very well be extra contagious.

The division says it has began monitoring flu vaccination numbers and can present these numbers each two weeks, beginning Wednesday.

“We do not routinely monitor flu shot counts, however we really feel the necessity to present this extra information to the general public utilizing our statewide on-line immunization community (SIMON),” the official stated. Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist. “DHEC is chargeable for figuring out when further public well being information can assist people make the most effective choices for themselves and their households. Our hope is that extra South Carolina will determine to roll up their sleeves and get their flu shot.

You could find these numbers right here.

DHEC may even launch vaccination numbers each different Wednesday.

The info may even be shared on the company’s social media pages. SIMON’s capabilities embody monitoring flu vaccinations by age. No different demographic info will likely be obtainable presently.

DHEC strongly encourages all eligible South Carolina residents to get their flu shot. The vaccine is obtainable for anybody 6 months and older and affords the most effective safety towards the virus.

“We all know that the winter months and the vacation season are occasions when households and buddies come collectively in giant teams,” Bell stated. “These can, sadly, change into breeding grounds for the unfold of the virus, if not managed correctly. We due to this fact encourage everybody, from grandparents to college students, to get vaccinated, and we ask mother and father to vaccinate their younger kids towards this lethal virus.

Go to DHEC’s flu web page to study extra about preventative measures, therapy, and different associated subjects.