COLUMBIA, S.C. — As winter tightens its grip, respiratory illnesses are spreading across the Palmetto State, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranking South Carolina very high for respiratory illness.
Medical consultant Jonathan Knoche from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) highlighted the surge in respiratory illnesses this time of year.
"This time of year, we tend to see an increase in respiratory disease illnesses like flu, like RSV, like COVID," Knoche explains.
He says the flu has taken a firm hold over the state, leading to numerous outbreaks, particularly in schools.
"We're seeing not only a lot of people going to the emergency departments for flu, but we're also seeing a lot of influenza outbreaks in schools. The week ending before Thanksgiving, we had 25 flu outbreaks in schools; the week before, we only had four," Knoche notes.
Currently, South Carolina and Louisiana lead the country in respiratory illnesses, according to the CDC's respiratory illness map, with other southern states closely following.
One resident, Erica Major, recently contracted the flu and shared her experience.
"Two weeks ago, I was diagnosed with the flu. It was pretty rough, it was pretty rough," Major says.
Knoche adds that COVID has led to a significant increase in hospitalizations, stating, "The week ending November 18th there we're about 230 hospitalizations for COVID in South Carolina and just under 80 for flu."
Emphasizing preventive measures, Knoche suggests that, aside from basic hygiene practices, getting vaccinated is crucial in combating serious illnesses.
"I think it's important for people to know there are three vaccines available for COVID, flu and RSV if you are an at-risk groups that can prevent a lot of these visits to the emergency department," Knoche advises.
Major, having experienced the flu, plans to take extra precautions to avoid falling ill again.
"Trying to maintain a healthy diet, get extra vitamins, put those probiotics back into my system, just where I can build my immune system," Major shares.
Typical flu symptoms include cough, sore throat, headache, fever, and sore muscles.