COLUMBIA South Carolina is back among the list of states reporting that swine flu is widespread.

For the past few weeks, South Carolina has been among few states reporting the flu was regional, the second-highest level. But the level was upgraded for the week of Oct. 25-31. That will be included today in the weekly update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An infectious disease expert says the dip was artificial.

Dr. Helmut Albrecht of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine said the drop was largely due to delays in reporting, which involves family doctors and pediatricians relaying how many patients have influenza-like illnesses.

Albrecht called the caseload dramatic. Normally, at this time of year, there would be no flu activity in South Carolina, he said, adding the good news is a mild mortality rate.

Since Sept. 1, there have been 622 patients hospitalized with H1N1, and 24 deaths in South Carolina.

That includes 64 hospitalized and four deaths last week, according to the state's health agency.

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