Flu Cases picking up in SC

So far, six people in South Carolina have died from the flu this season. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control says the first case in South Carolina was reported in October. The agency says 401 people as of Dec. 21 had been hospitalized for the flu.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the most prevalent strain this season is the H1N1 virus, which hits younger people hardest. The flu season runs from October through March in South Carolina. Proper hand washing can provide one of the most effective defenses against the spread of germs that can lead to illness such as the flu. Doctors recommend washing hands before eating, before and after preparing food, after using the bathroom, after touching animals, and after sneezing or coughing.