South Carolina was one of 46 states as of Nov. 7 reporting widespread flu activity to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Services continues to report that activity is widespread throughout the region as late as last Friday.

“It’s in schools, churches, shopping malls, grocery stores . . .” said South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Jim Beasley.

He said because the illness is so widespread, the probability of coming into contact with someone who has the H1N1 virus is nearly 100 percent.

“Generally speaking, the virus is everywhere,” Beasley said. “It’s widespread and that’s why we all have to take precautions against it.”

He added the state and nearly 800 of its registered locations across the state — including local DHEC offices, schools, hospitals and private providers — are trying to do everything in their power to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus.

The CDC says the number of states reporting widespread activity, while it declined by two states the week of Nov. 7, at this time of year are “unprecedented during seasonal flu.”

The agency also reports as of Nov. 7 nearly all of the influenza viruses causing the widespread activity continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses.

As of Nov. 13, DHEC reports the flu has caused 29 deaths and 709 hospitalizations since Sept. 1 throughout the state and just during the week ending Nov. 7 there were another 1,607 positive rapid flu tests reported.

While ER visits because of the flu are difficult to determine, Wallace Thomson director of infection control and prevention and employee health/staff development registered nurse Emily Cannon reports rates of visits with influenza-like illnesses peaked at the hospital in September.

“ER visits increased 30 percent at an all time high of 2,018 patients during September.” she said. “October returned to normal with approximately 1,538 patients visiting the ER.”

There have only been three confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Union County, but more than that had a positive rapid flu test or flu-like symptoms that were most likely H1N1, according to Cannon.

“As of the end of September, DHEC reported that there were 29,881 persons in Union County with flu-like symptoms,” she said. “This number is surely larger at this time but data has not been published yet. It is difficult for public health to have a true number on how many people actually have the flu or flu-like symptoms as many ill persons do not seek medical attention.”

Cannon added it is accurate to state between the ER and CHA physician practices the hospital does see patients daily with flu like symptoms.

“However, so far it has not been an increase so large that it has affected our daily routines or our ability to care for patients,” she said.

Cannon also said Wallace Thomson has taken several initiatives to control the spread of the flu.

“We are limiting visitors under the age of 18. We are asking that the public please comply with this regulation that will most likely be in place at least until the end of the cold and flu season,” she said. “Children under 18 will be asked not to go up to our patient units; this is to protect both the children and our patients. Under no circumstances will children be admitted to our OB unit until cold and flu season is over.”

The hospital also is actively vaccinating all of its employees and has extended that offer to the spouses and children of employees.

“We are also providing education to our employees and patients about preventing the spread of the flu — hand hygiene awareness, respiratory etiquette, vaccination, etc.”

Unfortunately, the best way to slow or even stop the spread of the H1N1 bug is by getting vaccinated and with short supplies it’s difficult to get it to all those people most at risk of catching the new flu.

Beasley emphasized the H1N1 flu is completely different from seasonal flu. He said this is a new virus that most people have never been exposed to. There are some people in the age group of 55 and up that might have some immunity to the new virus because of a similar strain that affected humans a few decades ago, but otherwise H1N1, he said, is a threat to nearly everyone.

He also reported all the flu cases reported and documented in South Carolina since the emergence of the new flu virus have been H1N1. DHEC expects seasonal flu to start impacting the state sometime in December and peaking in late January or early February as in other years.

Beasley also made sure to note that seasonal flu and H1N1 are not the same.

The seasonal flu shot will not protect you from H1N1 and visa versa. If there’s one thing DHEC wants to stress it is that vaccination is the best protection against the H1N1 virus.

“Contact your health care provider and ask them if they have the vaccine and if it’s right for you,” Beasley said.

Watch The Union Daily Times later this week for how the H1N1 vaccine is being distributed and how much of it is available and to whom.