“Because we’re all gonna be gathering for the holidays. We’re gonna be having family get-togethers, we’re gonna be shopping, and going out in public. We’re gonna be eating with each other – all of those kinds of things. So if you can get yourself protected now, it’s only gonna help us with maybe blunting the amount of influenza we’re seeing in our community,” says Dr. Burch.
“Tylenol and Motrin are mainstays. Other things to help control symptoms would be things like Sudafed, Afrin nasal sprays, antihistamines like Benadryl, and there are some cough suppressants as well for folks who are struggling with managing their cough,” he says.
This year, DHEC is reporting that cases are particularly high here in the Palmetto State.
Along with the flu, Doctor Pamela Bailey, with Prisma Health, says COVID, RSV, and other respiratory viral infections can spread. Bailey says with similar symptoms, it may be hard to tell respiratory illnesses apart.
The number of new influenza infections has tapered off, but health experts ask you to remain cautious
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to encourage everyone to get your flu shot, and take precautions against respiratory illnesses like Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV.
Officials from South Carolina DHEC and Prisma Health are encouraging everyone to get the flu shot as soon as possible. “We’ve definitely seen a dramatic jump in the number of flu cases this year than any recent flu season. So in the last 8 years, we never really started above the baseline level of flu illnesses, and we’re already above that baseline here in the very first week of flu season,” says Dr. Knoche.
Public healthcare experts are warning nations across the globe to prepare for a future flu pandemic.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control confirms the first death in South Carolina due to complications from the flu
