South Carolina Grapples with Measles Outbreak, Hundreds Quarantined Amid Low Vaccination Rates and Holiday Travel.
The state of South Carolina is battling an accelerating measles outbreak, which has resulted in 111 cases being documented in the northwest region as of Wednesday. The total number of cases since January stands at 114. According to Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, the outbreak shows no signs of slowing down and will likely persist for many more weeks.
In a recent news briefing, Dr. Bell reported that 27 new cases were confirmed between December 5th and January, marking a significant increase in a short period. The majority of those infected, 105 cases, were unvaccinated, while three individuals had received partial vaccinations and two had unknown vaccination histories. One individual was fully vaccinated.
The state has placed 254 people under a three-week quarantine due to their exposure to the measles virus. In areas heavily affected by the outbreak, K-12 vaccination rates for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) have fallen to approximately 90%, well below the recommended 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.
Dr. Bell noted that many of those quarantined were children, highlighting a concerning trend in the state's low vaccination rates among its younger population. With two doses of the MMR vaccine, individuals can only contract the disease with a mere 3% chance.
The South Carolina measles outbreak is part of a larger nationwide surge in cases, with over 1,900 reported in the US since January – an alarming increase from last year's numbers. The CDC warns that widespread unvaccinated populations could lead to the United States losing its "measles-free" status.
Critics, such as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have faced intense scrutiny for their handling of the outbreak. While downplaying the dangers of measles in April, Kennedy sparked outrage among medical professionals by comparing the current number of reported cases to a supposed epidemic during his childhood.
As the situation continues to unfold, health officials stress the importance of vaccination and encourage citizens to prioritize their health by staying up-to-date on recommended vaccinations.
The state of South Carolina is battling an accelerating measles outbreak, which has resulted in 111 cases being documented in the northwest region as of Wednesday. The total number of cases since January stands at 114. According to Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, the outbreak shows no signs of slowing down and will likely persist for many more weeks.
In a recent news briefing, Dr. Bell reported that 27 new cases were confirmed between December 5th and January, marking a significant increase in a short period. The majority of those infected, 105 cases, were unvaccinated, while three individuals had received partial vaccinations and two had unknown vaccination histories. One individual was fully vaccinated.
The state has placed 254 people under a three-week quarantine due to their exposure to the measles virus. In areas heavily affected by the outbreak, K-12 vaccination rates for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) have fallen to approximately 90%, well below the recommended 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.
Dr. Bell noted that many of those quarantined were children, highlighting a concerning trend in the state's low vaccination rates among its younger population. With two doses of the MMR vaccine, individuals can only contract the disease with a mere 3% chance.
The South Carolina measles outbreak is part of a larger nationwide surge in cases, with over 1,900 reported in the US since January – an alarming increase from last year's numbers. The CDC warns that widespread unvaccinated populations could lead to the United States losing its "measles-free" status.
Critics, such as Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have faced intense scrutiny for their handling of the outbreak. While downplaying the dangers of measles in April, Kennedy sparked outrage among medical professionals by comparing the current number of reported cases to a supposed epidemic during his childhood.
As the situation continues to unfold, health officials stress the importance of vaccination and encourage citizens to prioritize their health by staying up-to-date on recommended vaccinations.
the numbers are crazy and the fact that only 1 person is fully vaccinated makes me wanna scream 
vaccinating your kids is literally a lifesaver! i feel bad for those who cant get vaccinated due to whatever reason, but we gotta prioritize our health and others too 
i'm low-key worried about us losing our measles-free status though, that's like, super scary 
! I mean, 90% vaccination rates for kids? That's crazy low! What's going on in SC, right? It feels like a ticking time bomb over there 
. I'm all for personal freedom and whatnot, but when it comes to protecting our own bodies (and the ones around us), vaccines are a no-brainer 
. I mean, 3% chance of getting measles with two doses? Come on! We can do better than that 
. And those parents who haven't gotten their kids vaccinated yet... what's going through your head?! 
.
measles outbreak is getting out of control in south carolina 111 cases already?!?! 
90% of kids in these areas aren't even fully vaccinated?! Like, what are the parents thinking?! 
and now we gotta quarantine all these people too... it's just so sad... I hope health officials can figure out a way to stop this outbreak ASAP 
. it's a big concern 'cause measles can spread fast if most people are unvaccinated 
. i wish more ppl got their shots on time 
. it's not just about them, but also the kids who get quarantined and miss school 
. we should all take care of ourselves and our communities 
i mean we all know vaccines save lives but come on people 90% isnt even close to what its supposed to be 
measles isnt no joke either, its like the ultimate superbug 
. it's like the state is basically saying "oh well, we'll just deal with it" 
but at the same time, the CDC is warning about losing our measles-free status...it's all so frustrating 
. If most of the infected people are unvaccinated, it just means those 111 cases could've been prevented with just a couple of shots 
. And with schools and communities being quarantined, it's just so inconvenient for families 
. It's not fair that some states are having outbreaks while others aren't, we should all be looking out for each other 
.
. We shouldn't have to rely on someone like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. telling us what's good for us 
. Get vaccinated, stay safe, and let's stop this outbreak already 
... and the stats are just jaw-dropping - 90% of kids in some areas haven't even had their first dose of the MMR vaccine?!?! it's like they're begging for a disease-ridden apocalypse 
And now we're risking losing our "measles-free" status in the US? No thanks! 
. And what's with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s antics? Comparing a small outbreak to some mythical "epidemic" from his childhood is just plain irresponsible 
. Vaccines save lives, folks! 
.
kids should be protected from diseases like measles. and what's with all these unvaccinated people getting infected? it's not just about them, it's about keeping their communities safe too. 
And now we've got a bunch of kids stuck in quarantine... poor families who are having to deal with this on top of everything else. 
. What's gonna happen when we lose our "measles-free" status tho? Like, will we just be like "oh, yeah, we're cool with the whole measles thing now"?