Flu in South Carolina: Flu Season 2026 to 2027
2.3% of outpatient visits in South Carolina were for influenza-like illness in the week ending Sep 12, 2026. Flu activity in South Carolina usually peaks in mid February.
Flu in South Carolina this season against the median
2.3% of outpatient visits in South Carolina were for influenza-like illness in the week ending Sep 12, 2026, between seasons and under the 3.0% level that marks the start of flu season there. Influenza-like illness, in the CDC’s outpatient network, means a visit for fever with a cough or sore throat. Weekly reporting for the 2026 to 2027 season starts with the week ending Oct 10, 2026; until then the chart shows the 2025 to 2026 season against the median.
Between seasons. Season threshold: 3.0%.
Source: CDC ILINet, via the Delphi Epidata API. Median: each week’s middle value across 10 seasons since 2015 to 2016, leaving out 2020 to 2021. Season threshold: the median of MMWR weeks 40 to 43 plus one percentage point, 3.0%. Compiled 2026-09-22.
Flu hospital admissions in South Carolina
Hospitals in South Carolina reported 11 new laboratory confirmed flu admissions in the week ending Sep 12, 2026. Last season's busiest week, ending Jan 3, 2026, had 891. Admissions are laboratory confirmed, so they count flu itself, and they rise a week or two behind visits.
Source: CDC NHSN Weekly Hospital Respiratory Data, field totalconfflunewadm. Compiled 2026-09-22 and refreshed in the browser each visit.
When flu peaks in South Carolina
The median peak week in South Carolina falls in mid February, against late January nationally. Across 10 seasons since 2015 to 2016, the earliest peak came in early November (2022 to 2023) and the latest in late March (2016 to 2017). The 2025 to 2026 season peaked in the week ending Dec 27, 2025 at 16.0% of visits.
The biggest flu season in South Carolina since 2015
The 2023 to 2024 season holds the highest weekly share in South Carolina’s ILINet record since 2015 to 2016: 19.3% of outpatient visits in the week ending Dec 30, 2023, where the median curve tops out at 7.0%.
2020 to 2021 is left out: “There was no discernible peak in flu activity during the 2020-2021 season due to the uncharacteristically low level of influenza virus circulation that season.” CDC, Flu Season.
What the CDC says about flu shots and spread
“For most people who need only one dose of influenza vaccine for the season, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against influenza. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October.”CDC, Who Needs a Flu Vaccine, Sept. 18, 2025, quoted exactly.
“Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine, ideally by the end of October but people should continue to get vaccinated as long as flu viruses pose a threat to their community.”CDC, Preventing Seasonal Flu, Sept. 1, 2026, quoted exactly.
“Most experts think that influenza viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.”CDC, How Flu Spreads, Sept. 17, 2024, quoted exactly.
“People with flu are most contagious during the first three days of their illness.”CDC, How Flu Spreads, Sept. 17, 2024, quoted exactly.
Questions people ask about flu in South Carolina
ILINet and NHSN figures compiled 2026-09-22 from the sources linked above and refreshed in the browser each visit. CDC quotes copied exactly from the pages linked.