What's Going Around in Columbia?
Health data for the Columbia, South Carolina area — April 2026
Here's what respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases look like near Columbia, South Carolina, based on the latest CDC surveillance data for South Carolina. Tap any topic for detailed state-level trends, charts, and forecasts.
3.8% ILI
→ Stable in South Carolina
0.6 per 100K
↓ Declining in South Carolina
1.3 per 100K
→ Stable in South Carolina
124 cases in South Carolina
91.2% in South Carolina
CDC Recommendations at This Level
Active measles outbreak — vaccination is urgent
- • The CDC strongly recommends MMR vaccination for anyone who is not up to date
- • Measles is extremely contagious — it spreads through the air and can linger in a room for 2 hours after an infected person leaves
- • If you develop symptoms, call your doctor BEFORE going in — they need to prepare to avoid exposing others
- • Unvaccinated individuals should avoid public spaces where cases have been reported
- • Infants too young for MMR (under 12 months) should avoid known outbreak areas
This is general public health guidance based on CDC recommendations — not personal medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you and your family.
Columbia Community Health Snapshot
2022 dataCity-specific chronic disease and prevention statistics from the CDC PLACES program , which provides local health estimates for communities across the US.
Chronic Conditions
Mental Health
Health Behaviors
Prevention & Access
Source: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2024 release. Age-adjusted prevalence estimates. Learn more
About this data: Infectious disease surveillance (flu, COVID, RSV, measles) is reported at the state level. This page uses South Carolina data as the best available indicator for the Columbia area. The health snapshot above shows Columbia-specific estimates from CDC PLACES (2022 data).
See the full South Carolina health dashboard for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What illnesses are going around in Columbia, South Carolina right now?
Based on South Carolina state surveillance data (which covers Columbia), flu activity is moderate, RSV is low, COVID-19 is moderate, and South Carolina has reported 124 measles cases in 2026. Click any topic above for detailed trends and charts.
Is the flu bad in Columbia right now?
Flu activity in South Carolina (which includes Columbia) is currently moderate with 3.8% ILI. Activity appears stable. See the South Carolina flu page for weekly trend charts.
What are the biggest health issues in Columbia?
According to the CDC PLACES dataset (2022 data), Columbia residents face these key health challenges: Sleep Deprived (42.3%), High BP (38.4%), Obesity (37.2%). The community health snapshot on this page shows 18 health measures specific to Columbia.
Does Columbia have its own health data, or is this state-level?
This page combines two types of CDC data. The infectious disease section (flu, COVID, RSV, measles) shows South Carolina state-level surveillance, which is the most reliable available indicator for the Columbia area. The Community Health Snapshot below shows Columbia-specific chronic disease and prevention data from the CDC PLACES program, which provides city-level estimates for all 50 states. State infectious disease data reflects overall trends that apply to communities within the state, including Columbia.
Local Health Signal is not affiliated with the CDC or any government agency. Data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for clinical decision making. See our methods page for details on data sources and limitations.