On Thursday, Jan. 4, the South Carolina Department of Health (DHEC) hosted a media briefing regarding respiratory illness rates across the state. Dr. Martha Buchanan, the Lead Medical Consultant for DHEC, spoke regarding rising flu cases and deaths, COVID and RSV rates, and how to prevent the spread of these illnesses.
Due to businesses and schools being closed over the holidays, there is a slowdown in reporting. This slowdown gives
the illusion of illness rates dropping this week, but Dr. Buchanan expects the reporting to catch up next week (Jan. 1-Jan. 7). She emphasized that the “holidays are behind us, but flu, RSV, and COVID continue to be circulating this time of year.”
For the last several weeks, South Carolina has been in the number one or two spot for highest flu cases in the United States, alternating with Louisianna.
Dr. Buchanan reminded that while most people who get RSV, COVID, or the flu, do recover that infants, small children, persons with chronic medical conditions, and the elderly will “very likely have complications.”
This year’s flu vaccine is a quadrivalent influenza (flu) vaccine and is designed to protect against four different flu viruses, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. Dr. Buchanan explained that so far, most people with confirmed cases of flu have a strain covered by the current vaccine. She continued that individuals who have been infected with the illness this year have likely developed immunity and a vaccine wouldn’t be necessary.
The best prevention for respiratory illness is to get vaccinated, wash your hands regularly, cover your cough, stay home if you are sick, and to consider wearing a mask while in public and large groups. DHEC will be conducting respiratory illness briefings every Thursday throughout the month of January.
For more information, visit their website at https://scdhec.gov/health/respiratory-disease-watch
