Here’s a look at health and environmental news from around South Carolina.

DHEC reports 22 more flu deaths in South Carolina’s 8th week of widespread influenza

Twenty-two new flu-related deaths were reported in South Carolina in the last week, the Department of Health and Environmental Control said Wednesday, showing a decline in deaths compared with previous weeks.

But Dr. Ludwig Lettau, an infectious disease specialist with Trident Health, said he doesn’t think the flu has let up yet this year.

People should get the flu shot if they have not yet, he said.

Flu season still running strong

Flu season is still going strong, and the statewide flu-related death toll has now topped 100.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Thursday that last week there were 18,726 new cases statewide, 518 hospitalizations and 22 reported flu deaths.

While each of those weekly numbers is down slightly from the previous week, Greenville, Spartanburg and Union counties bucked the trend.

SC remains hot spot for the flu, though this week offers reason for cautious optimism

It remains a nuisance, but the flu’s momentum locally and statewide waned a bit over the past week, according to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reports.

More than 18,700 new flu cases were confirmed statewide, down by about 7.5 percent compared to last week’s total. Of those, 1,270 were reported in Horry County, while another 482 were confirmed in Georgetown County.

At last, flu cases trending down

Flu deaths and new cases finally are trending down across the state, raising hopes that flu season may have peaked, state officials said Thursday.

DHEC: Percentage of flu deaths drops during the first week of February

Columbia, S.C. (WPDE) — South Carolina has started off the month of February with it’s eighth consecutive week of widespread flu activity.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 31, the total number of flu-related deaths was 84.