COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina health officials say 15 people have died of the flu so far this season, more than double the number of deaths at this time last year.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reports the 15 deaths occurred through Jan. 6. That's compared to seven deaths through the same period in 2017 and six deaths through the same period in 2016.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- State health officials act to limit spread of flu at hospitals
- NC health officials report first child flu death of 2017-18 season
- Flu spike has doctors concerned: 'This is the worse season I've ever seen'
- Flu kills 4 more in NC; Charlotte-area hospitals restricting access
Health officials tell The State newspaper in Columbia that the first week of January also marked the fourth week in a row that widespread flu activity has been reported. And it's spreading fast.
DHEC's latest week-to-week report states that the number of cases went up by 1,395, or 40.6 percent, when compared to the previous week. There have been 17,004 cases statewide since the season started.
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- 2 children, mother dead in double homicide-suicide, police say
- Man shot, killed in officer-involved shooting in Huntersville
- Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock's girlfriend said her fingerprints would likely be on ammo
- Pedestrian dies after stuck, pinned under light rail train in Charlotte
- WATCH: Vicki Graf's Sunday forecast outlook
- Police investigate man's claim wife died during trip to Graceland