A measles outbreak in South Carolina has seen a significant rise, with health officials reporting a total of 15 confirmed cases as of Friday. The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) noted that these new cases emerged among individuals who had been identified as close contacts of those already quarantined at home. Importantly, these individuals were not present in any school settings while contagious, thus minimizing the risk of additional exposures.
The outbreak was first detected in the upstate region of South Carolina in early October, with several confirmed cases reported in Spartanburg County, which borders North Carolina. In response to the outbreak, last week, two elementary schools in Spartanburg County took precautionary measures by sending over 150 unvaccinated students home for a 21-day quarantine after exposure to measles. As a result, health officials confirmed that at least five of these children have since contracted the disease.
In a recent press conference, South Carolina health officials revealed that more than 100 students from both the Global Academy of South Carolina and Fairforest Elementary School are currently under quarantine at home. According to state health department data, only 17% of the students at Global Academy, a K-5 charter school with over 600 students, have received their required immunizations. In contrast, Fairforest Elementary boasts a vaccination rate of 85%. Health experts indicate that a vaccination rate of 95% is typically necessary to achieve herd immunity, which is vital for preventing outbreaks in communities.
In an effort to combat the rising cases of measles, health officials announced the deployment of a mobile vaccination unit in Spartanburg County over the next two weeks. This initiative will provide free measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations to residents. This proactive measure is particularly crucial as the United States is experiencing its highest number of measles cases in over 30 years. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Wednesday, there have been 1,596 confirmed cases across 41 states, with over 90% of those cases involving unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.
As highlighted by the CDC, there have been 44 measles outbreaks reported nationwide this year, a stark increase compared to just 16 outbreaks reported throughout the previous year. The CDC recommends that individuals receive two doses of the MMR vaccine: the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between 4 and 6 years old. One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective, while two doses increase effectiveness to 97% against measles. Although measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to its highly effective vaccination program, the recent data demonstrates concerning trends in vaccination rates, which have been declining in recent years.
