South Carolina Sees Respiratory Illnesses Plummet After Winter Surge

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) reports a sharp decline in respiratory illnesses as spring advances, following a brutal winter marked by widespread flu, RSV and COVID-19 activity. Flu-like illness, which hit 5.6% of patient visits statewide in late 2025 — well above the 3.7% baseline — has now subsided significantly, with activity classified as low across the state. DPH's Respiratory Disease Dashboard, updated weekly, shows hospitalizations dropping from nearly 90 flu-related admissions in a single week during the December peak to minimal levels by early 2026.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell highlighted the role of high vaccination uptake in curbing the surge that claimed the season's first confirmed flu death on Dec. 3, 2025, in the Lowcountry. 'Vaccines remain our strongest defense,' Bell stated, noting flu shots available at DPH clinics via 1-855-472-3432. At the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, emergency room flu positives fell from one in 10 patients amid the holiday spike to negligible now, easing pressure on Upstate and Lowcountry facilities.

The downturn caps a challenging season that included a massive measles outbreak in the Upstate, with 997 cases from October 2025 to March 2026 — declared over after no new infections since March 15. While CDC data tracks ongoing national trends, South Carolina's pivot to year-round precautions like handwashing and staying home when sick has sustained the progress. Officials warn summer lulls don't erase risks for older adults, children and immunocompromised residents.