COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Oct. 23 that the state has suffered its first influenza-associated death of the season.
“Sadly, a person from the Midlands region has died from complications due to the flu, becoming our first confirmed influenza-associated death of the season that officially started September 29,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist and director of DPH’s Health Programs Branch.
“This is a sober reminder that the flu can be deadly. Unfortunately, we see many deaths, hospitalizations and other serious complications of flu each year in our state,” Dr. Bell said. “Getting vaccinated against this disease is the best way to prevent the flu, and I recommend that all of us who are able get our shot as soon as possible.”
DPH and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated. Preventing the flu is particularly important for people who are at increased risk of complications from the virus, including young children, pregnant women, people 65 and older, and those with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart or lung disease. However, healthy people also can have serious complications from the flu.
The flu can circulate any time of year, but for surveillance purposes, the flu season began Sept. 29. DPH provides a weekly Flu Watch report published each Wednesday.
Preventive methods that protect against the flu and other respiratory viruses include vaccination, masks, frequent handwashing, and staying home or away for others while sick.
It takes about two weeks for the body’s immune system to respond for full protection. It is important to get vaccinated as early as possible to be fully protected.
“Regardless of what this season will bring, we can be prepared for significant activity not only from the flu, but respiratory illnesses in general, to include COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV,” Dr. Bell said. “Just like with the flu, being vaccinated is the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 or RSV. People should talk with their health care provider about vaccination for them.”
As these respiratory illnesses circulate in our communities, it is possible to get sick with one or more of them. Most people who get sick have mild cases and recover in one to two weeks. However, some people can become critically ill. People most at risk for severe illness and complications from these respiratory illnesses are infants, young children, older adults, pregnant people and those with chronic medical conditions.
The updated COVID-19 vaccine for 2024-2025 is now available and recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older. Getting a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine is important because the vaccines are updated to give the best protection from the currently circulating strains of COVID viruses, which changes like the flu virus does. Both the flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines can be obtained at a retail pharmacy, health care provider or DPH health department. The COVID-19 and flu vaccines can be given at the same time.
Flu vaccines offered at DHEC health department clinics are available by appointment. Call 1-855-472-3432 to make an appointment or go to the DPH website to find the nearest location. More information about preventing the flu is available at DPH’s flu webpage. Also, monitor respiratory illness activity in our state by following Flu Watch and the Respiratory Disease Watch, which are updated every Wednesday.
