South Carolina Sees Very High Flu Activity Entering 2026

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report placed South Carolina at the highest activity category for the week ending Dec. 20, 2025, a Level 13 designation that signals very high influenza circulation. Surveillance data track trends with roughly a two-week lag, so figures for late December were not available at the time of the report; public health officials noted the steep increase in cases that began after Thanksgiving.

The state’s spike in influenza coincided with other respiratory concerns, including a growing measles outbreak reported in late December. Several hospitals and health systems responded to the combined pressure by tightening visitor policies to limit transmission and protect vulnerable patients. Local clinics and emergency departments across the region have reported higher demand for testing, treatment and advice.

For Bamberg County, the statewide surge translates into a greater risk of local spread. Increased case counts typically lead to more people missing school and work, and to heavier caseloads for primary care providers and emergency services. Older adults, young children, pregnant people and those with chronic health conditions face heightened risk of complications. The timing, occurring during winter holidays and the start of the new year, raises particular concern for congregate settings such as schools, nursing facilities and workplaces.

Public-health guidance emphasizes prevention to reduce community impact. Residents should get a flu vaccination if they have not already done so, practice regular hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when ill to limit onward transmission. Health care providers and long-term care facilities may enforce visitor limits or screening to reduce exposure; those planning visits to hospitals or care homes should check policies ahead of time.

Local officials say preparedness includes conserving health system capacity and protecting high-risk community members. Bamberg County residents with concerns about symptoms or exposure should contact their health care provider or the county health department to arrange testing, seek advice about antiviral treatment when appropriate, and find vaccination options. Monitoring the situation through local health updates will help residents weigh risks for family gatherings, work and school attendance as influenza activity continues into the winter months.