RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. – As winter weather settles in across South Carolina, public health officials are reminding residents that the colder months bring more than just snow and chilly temperatures-they also bring a rise in respiratory illnesses. Dr. Martha Buchanan, with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), pointed out that it’s not just the potential for snow that signals the arrival of winter. The drop in temperatures combined with homes being sealed off from the cold creates conditions that contribute to the spread of illnesses.