Department of Health confirm first flu death of the season in South Carolina
HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING. WE BEGIN WITH A REVISION TO THE DEATH TOLL IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY AFTER HURRICANE HELENE. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS IT OVER COUNTED DEATHS BY AS MANY AS 30 OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTY PREVIOUSLY REPORTED 72 DEATHS. AND NOW THEY’RE AGREEING WITH A STATE TALLY OF 42. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE CITES SEVERAL FACTORS, FROM UPDATED CAUSES OF DEATH TO COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS AFTER THE STORM. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REPORTS 96 DEATHS FROM HELENE STATEWIDE. NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR ROY COOPER IS NOW DESCRIBING HELENE AS THE DEADLIEST TROPICAL STORM IN THE STATE’S HISTORY. OUR ISABELLE MARAK JOINS US LIVE THIS MORNING FROM BUNCOMBE COUNTY, WHERE A VIGIL WAS HELD LAST NIGHT, ISABELLE. ERIN, LAST NIGHT, HUNDREDS GATHERED HERE AT THIS PARK, ALL TO REMEMBER THE DEVASTATION LEFT BEHIND FROM HURRICANE HELENE. FAMILIES GATHERED TO HEAR FROM PASTORS, LISTEN TO MUSIC, SING TOGETHER, CRY TOGETHER AND PRAY TOGETHER. PEOPLE ALSO LIT THEIR CANDLES IN UNITY, CREATING A POWERFUL PICTURE OF HOPE AND SOLIDARITY IN THE COMMUNITY. AND LATER TODAY, TEACHERS WILL BE RETURNING TO BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS, ALL BEFORE STUDENTS HEAD BACK ON FRIDAY, REPORTING LIVE IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY. I’M ISABELLE MARAK FOR WYFF NEWS FOUR ISABELLE. THANK YOU. SPECTRUM WOES CONTINUE ACROSS OUR REGION, BUT THE COMPANY IS PROVIDING NEW HOPE FOR THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE STILL OFFLINE. SPECTRUM SAYS THE UPDATED ESTIMATED TIME TO RESTORE SERVICES TO ACCESSIBLE HOMES IN OUR AREA IS TOMORROW AND WEEKS AFTER THE STORM. SEVERAL PEOPLE AROUND OUR REGION ARE STILL DEALING WITH DOWNED TREES AS WELL. OUR TEAM SPOKE WITH ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES ABOUT THE INCREASE IN BUSINESS TODAY. WELL, ERIN TREE REMOVAL SERVICES ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK. STILL TO CLEAN THE AREA. NOW, THE OWNER OF CARSON TREE COMPANY SAYS SINCE HALLOWEEN THEY GET ABOUT 75 CALLS A DAY, AND THEY’RE WORKING FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN. BEN CARSON SAYS HIS CREW HAS SINCE DOUBLED IN SIZE. THE FIRST TWO WEEKS AFTER HALLOWEEN. CARSON SAYS THEY RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 45 EMERGENCY CALLS WITH TREES ON HOMES, SOME HAVING AS MANY AS FOUR TREES ON TOP OF THEM. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING A TREE REMOVAL SERVICE, CARSON SAYS YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE THE COMPANY HAS GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE AND WORKMAN’S COMP. CARSON SAYS IT MAY BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE ALL THE TREES ARE REMOVED. ERIN TANIQUA. THANK YOU. A NEW FEMA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER IS OPENING IN OCONEE COUNTY. IT’S AT THE COUNTY LAND EDUCATION CAMPUS ON VOCATIONAL DRIVE IN SENECA AND IT’S OPEN TODAY, TOMORROW AND FRIDAY FROM 8 A.M. TO 7 P.M. TO FIND THE OTHER DRC LOCATIONS, YOU CAN GO TO FEMA, DOT GOV SLASH DRC OR TEXT DRC IN A ZIP CODE TO 43362. THE GENERAL ELECTION IS SHAPING UP TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CLOSELY WATCHED OF OUR LIFETIME, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN WATCH CLOSELY ON ELECTION NIGHT. YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WYFF4.COM OR DOWNLOAD THE WIFE NEWS FOUR APP, AND YOU’LL FIND UP TO THE MINUTE ELECTION RESULTS THAT ARE MORE ACCURATE THAN EVER. BUT HERE’S AMY LU WITH MORE DETAILS ON OUR COMMITMENT. 2024 RESULTS TRACKER. WHETHER IT’S THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, CONGRESS OR HUNDREDS OF OTHER HOTLY CONTESTED RACES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WE’VE GOT JUST THE TICKET FOR YOU TO TRACK THE RACES ON YOUR TICKET. LET’S START WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WE DON’T HAVE A BIG NATIONAL ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT. THE WINNING CANDIDATE NEEDS 270 ELECTORAL VOTES TO WIN THE WHITE HOUSE. THEY GET ELECTORAL VOTES BY WINNING STATEWIDE ELECTIONS. AND OUR ELECTORAL COLLEGE TRACKER, POWERED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, WILL SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHERE KAMALA HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP STAND IN EACH STATE. AS VOTES ARE COUNTED AND WHICH STATES ARE NEEDED TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY. OUR INTERACTIVE MAP WILL HAVE EASY TO READ DETAILS AND BREAKDOWNS LIKE COUNTY BY COUNTY RESULTS, OR YOU CAN TRACK HOW MANY BALLOTS HAVE BEEN COUNTED AND HOW MANY ARE LEFT TO GO. AND WHEN STATES ARE CALLED, YOU’LL SEE THAT IMMEDIATELY UPDATED. AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE COUNT. WE’LL ALSO BE PROVIDING SECOND BY SECOND COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWNS OF ALL THE RACES THAT MATTER TO YOU. HERE’S ONE EXAMPLE FROM OUR SISTER STATION IN PENNSYLVANIA. IT’S ONE OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WILL BE WATCHING THAT COULD DECIDE THE BALANCE OF POWER ON CAPITOL HILL. YOU’LL ALSO BE ABLE TO TRACK HUNDREDS OF HOTLY CONTESTED RACES IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMMUNITY. RACES LIKE CITY COUNCIL OR SCHOOL BOARD. WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED FROM THE TOP OF THE BALLOT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, GIVING YOU THE LATEST VOTE TALLIES AS THEY COME IN. FOR COMMITMENT 2024, I’M AMY LU, FORMER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TULSI GABBARD SAYS SHE’LL BE JOINING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. SHE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT DURING A TRUMP RALLY IN NORTH CAROLINA. GABBARD RECENTLY JOINED THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AS AN HONORARY CO-CHAIR FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S TRANSITION TEAM, ALONGSIDE ROBERT F KENNEDY JR. WITH LESS THAN TWO WEEKS NOW UNTIL ELECTION DAY, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE ALREADY DECIDED WHO THEY WANT FOR PRESIDENT. EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY, AND MORE THAN 20 MILLION BALLOTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CAST. THAT’S ACCORDING TO DATA FROM 47 STATES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THAT NUMBER IS AT MORE THAN 125,000. IN NORTH CAROLINA, 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE VOTED. AND IN GEORGIA, MORE THAN 1.8 MILLION BALLOTS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED. SYDNEY. WELL, ERIN, WE ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER MILD DAY AHEAD. TEMPERATURES STILL ON THE CHILLY SIDE, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. THAT’S BEEN THE THEME THE LAST WEEK OR SO AS THOSE CLEAR SKIES ALLOW OUR TEMPERATURES TO FALL EVEN COLDER. SO WE’RE WAKING UP MAINLY IN THE 40S RIGHT NOW, BUT AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE DAY, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE SUN IS UP, TEMPERATURES WILL RISE VERY QUICKLY. WE’LL TOP OUT RIGHT NEAR 80 DEGREES. THIS AFTERNOON. ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON THROUGH ABOUT FIVE. THAT’S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES. SO IF YOU’RE TRYING TO AVOID THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY EARLIER THAN ABOUT 3:00 WOULD BE BETTER OR RIGHT TOWARDS SUNSET. OTHERWISE, IT’S GOING TO BE NONETHELESS BEAUTIFUL, THOUGH. SUNSHINE, MILD TEMPERATURES ALL DAY LONG AND REALLY AREA WIDE. BUT WE DO HAVE A MAJOR COOLDOWN HEADED OUR WAY. SO COMING UP, I’LL HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AS TO WHEN THAT COOLDOWN ARRIVES AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FOUR-DAY PLUS FORECAST. AARON. SYDNEY. WE’RE STILL FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS ON THE ROADS THIS MORNING. A CRASH ON I-85 SOUTH AT EXIT 68 IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY. YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE WELLFORD EXIT. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE ON THE LEFT HAND LANE AREA THERE. THE SLOWDOWN SLOWING DOWN. IT’S NOT STOPPING, WHICH IS CERTAINLY SOME GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY. THAT SAID, FURTHER DOWN ON 85 SOUTH, WE ARE SEEING A SLOWDOWN AS WELL. OUR TRAVEL TIMES REFLECT THAT FROM THE AIRPORT TO WOODRUFF ROAD. THAT’S AT 11 MINUTES USUALLY AT SIX. I RECOMMEND AS OF RIGHT NOW, LEAVING FIVE, MAYBE TEN MINUTES EARLY. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MORNING. THE OTHER TWO LOOK GREAT THOUGH 12 MINUTES AND 13 MINUTES. THE NEW SPINKS MARKET OPENS IN GREENVILLE’S WEST END THIS MORNING ON SOUTH MAIN STREET IN THE FORMER COOK STATION LOCATION. WE’RE TOLD IT WILL OFFER LOCAL FOOD, DRINKS AND PRODUCTS FROM BUSINESSES LIKE METHODICAL COFFEE, SWAMP RABBIT CAFE AND TWIN CREEK FARMS. IT WILL BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 5 A.M. TO 2 A.M. THE SPARTANBURG WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S IS TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH AT BARNETT PARK. THE REGISTRATION FOR THAT STARTS AT 10 A.M. IT’S FREE TO REGISTER AND YOU CAN ALSO REGISTER THE DAY OF THE WALK. THE OPENING CEREMONY STARTS AT 1045, WITH THE WALK TO FOLLOW FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCK A’JA WILSON’S JERSEY WILL BE RETIRED IN A PREGAME CEREMONY AT COLONIAL LIFE ARENA. FITTINGLY, THE CEREMONY WILL HAPPEN ON FEBRUARY SECOND AS TWO TWO AS A TRIBUTE TO WILSON’S JERSEY NUMBER, WHICH IS 22. WILSON ALSO HOLDS A TOTAL OF 22 PROGRAM RECORDS. SHE’S NOW WON TWO WNBA CHAMPIONSHIPS AND IS A THREE TIME LEAGU
Department of Health confirm first flu death of the season in South Carolina
Updated: 4:41 PM EDT Oct 23, 2024
The South Carolina Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that the state has suffered its first influenza-associated death of the season.(Video above: WYFF News 4 Morning Headlines)”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.Officials said 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.”According to the DPH, it is possible to get sick with one or more of these respiratory illnesses. 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 (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.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that the state has suffered its first influenza-associated death of the season.
(Video above: WYFF News 4 Morning Headlines)
“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.
Officials said 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.”
According to the DPH, it is possible to get sick with one or more of these respiratory illnesses. 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 (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.
