Deadly Flu Season Already In 2018

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Columbia, SC (WOLO)–  More than a dozen people have died from the flu this season in South Carolina.  There has been widespread flu activity for the fourth week this flu season. According to DHEC,15 people have died of the flu this season, seven of those deaths have happened here in the Midlands. In the first week of January alone, there were three flu-confirmed deaths in the state.  

“We’re seeing greater patient volumes this week than we were last week. I think actually this week we’re actually at our record patient volumes in this clinic,” Katie Schill said, a family nurse practitioner with Palmetto Health Richland said. 

In the first week of the month, hospitalizations for the flu increased by nearly 87%. With flu season going through April, there’s still a lot of time to catch the nasty virus. Schill said it is not too late to get the flu shot and because the weather keeps fluctuating, she highly encourages it.

“As the weather chills down and everything else, people tend to move inside, and that’s where you’re in close quarters with people and that’s when things are going to spread more easily,” said Schill. 

People most commonly experience fever, cough, and mild to extreme body aches, according to Schill. There is one thing you can do that will greatly decrease your chances at getting the flu.

“Good hand hygiene is the first place you need to start with,” Schill said.  Shill says if you have flu-like symptoms, no school or work until your fever is gone for at least 24 hours. And make sure to be watching around you for those who may not be following that rule.

“If you’ve been exposed, good hand hygiene and taking care of yourself. But if you do start having symptoms then we do recommend you coming in,” Schill said.  According to DHEC there have been almost 270 flu cases here in the state since the beginning of the year.