Flu tightens its grip on Ga., S.C. and neighboring states
AUGUSTA. Ga. - The latest statistics show Georgia and South Carolina are still among the states hit hardest by the flu this season.
Figures from last week place the two-state region at Level 13 – the highest rating by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – as part of a band of seven Southern states struggling with the virus. Only New Mexico and New York City share that distinction.
Health officials say an uptick in flu, COVID and RSV after the holidays wouldn’t be a surprise, since so many people travel and spend time in close quarters with their families raising the risks of transmission.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, there have been at least 10 million U.S. cases of respiratory illness, 110,000 hospitalizations, and 6,500 deaths from flu so far this season. The agency said 27 children have died of flu.
Dr. Martha Buchanan, the lead medical consultant for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, said the agency is tracking a high number of respiratory illness cases, particularly of the flu.
Buchanan said South Carolina continues to see flu-related deaths, which she said serve as a reminder that the flu “is not to be taken lightly.”
Health officials say in addition to the flu, they are also concerned about COVID and the respiratory syncytial virus, which are also causing illness.
Buchanan also said COVID-related hospitalizations are on the rise in the state. However, COVID has become more of a challenge to track because some COVID tests are being performed at home.
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Nationally, 38 states have high or very high levels of respiratory illnesses with fever, cough and other symptoms. That’s up from 31 states the week before.
“We expect it to be elevated for several more weeks,” said the CDC’s Alicia Budd. So far, though, this is a moderate flu season, she said.
The flu season generally peaks between December and February; CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said she expects it to peak by the end of this month. Officials say this season’s flu shots are well-matched to the strain that is spreading the most.
COVID-19 illnesses may not be as escalating as quickly as flu this winter. CDC data indicates coronavirus-caused hospitalizations haven’t hit the same levels they did at the same point during the last three winters. Still, COVID-19 is putting more people in the hospital than flu, CDC data shows.
Lauren Ancel Meyers of the University of Texas said the nation is seeing a second rise in COVID-19 after a smaller peak in September.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about when and how high this current surge will peak,” said Meyers, who runs a team that forecasts COVID-19, flu and RSV trends
A new version of the coronavirus, called JN.1, is ing for nearly two-thirds of U.S. cases, according to a CDC estimate. But health officials say there’s no evidence that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants,
What you can do
Buchanan repeated five simple steps to prevent all three illnesses:
- Get your vaccines if you are eligible.
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Cover your coughs.
- Stay home if you feel sick.
- Wear a mask if you are at an event with a lot of people or where illness may spread.
She also said living healthier can boost your immunity and help your body be more ready to fight off any illness.
“So eating a healthy diet, you know, keeping it low, low fat and watching your calorie intake, regular exercise is really important and getting enough sleep,” she said. “Sleep is really important for us to keep ourselves healthy. So all of those things that we can do to keep ourselves healthy will help reduce our risk of becoming severely ill.”
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