United States: The health situation across the United States has been distorting with each passing day. As the United States entered the winter season, everyone around is sick – some because of seasonal flu, whereas some from COVID and the health authorities in South Carolina have announced that the flu activity is the highest in the state.
After witnessing such a surge in the cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined that South Carolina has joined other Southeast states – stretching from South Carolina to Louisiana.
Health experts have underlined that along with the flu, the cases related to COVID-19 and other viruses have also been actively and rapidly growing. Doctors have warned that a person can be infected with more than one infection; however, it is rare. They further underscored that the surge in flu activity can be major because of a lack of protection.
Horrifying numbers of cases in South Carolina
The health authorities of South Carolina are worried as the state has been registering the highest number of cases of influenza-like illness, i.e., 17.5 percent. The state has been followed by Louisiana, where the rate has reached 14 percent. The data has been disclosed by the Post and Courier analysis of CDC data.
Low vaccination rate!
While emphasizing the vaccination rate, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) revealed that the vaccination rate in the region is low – which might be one of the reasons behind the upsurge in the cases. The data stated that as of January 1, only 22.68 percent of residents of South Carolina got their jabs against the flu, and just 15.57 percent of adults aged 65 and less have taken the flu vaccine, the post and courier reported.
Meanwhile, the health authorities took a sigh of relief when they announced that the vaccination rate among children and adults has been witnessing a surge in the last two weeks. The public health experts appealed to the residents and citizens to come forward and get jabbed as it is ‘not too late.’
History of low vaccination rate!
A lead medical consultant to DHEC, Dr. Martha Buchanan, mentioned that the US state of South Carolina historically reports lower rates of vaccination; last year, the flu vaccination rate was just 27 percent. However, she further mentioned that the hesitancy due to vaccines increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notable spike in COVID-19 numbers
The health authorities have also reported a surge in the cases of “serious” COVID-19 infection in South Carolina – the cases have jumped by 49 percent – from 256 during the week of December 16 to 386 during the week of December 23.
DHEC expressed worry and mentioned that the “cases or outbreak of illness among our most vulnerable citizens are concerning.” In addition to this, the health expert at Roper Hospital – Dr Kent Stock, stated that he has been experiencing another COVID outbreak firsthand.
According to the Post and Courier reports, he was quoted saying, “Very clearly COVID-associated hospitalizations are going up.” Additionally, he expressed that it is heart-wrenching that some patients have to wait for a bed.
Flu-like concerns related to vaccination rates were raised by health experts. According to stats shared by the Post and Courier, since the COVID-19 booster dose became available in the fall, one percent (1%) of children, four percent (4%) of adults, and 22 percent of adults aged 65 and more got a jab.
In this regard, the faculty director of the Center for Global Health at the Medical University of South Carolina – Dr Michael Sweat, said, “It’s abysmally low.”
A significant uptick in RSV infections
The DHEC has further mentioned that the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been seriously affecting the childcare setting, and since October 1, South Carolina has reported around 76 cases. The cases peaked during December and are declining now.