South Carolina battles accelerating measles outbreak, hundreds quarantined

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.

omg its so wild that theres like 111 confirmed cases in south carolina already 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'm telling you, this is super worrying ! 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 . If we don't get those numbers up, it's gonna be a disaster . 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?! Get a grip, people! Vaccination is not optional, it's a matter of public health .

omg this is so scary!!! measles outbreak is getting out of control in south carolina 111 cases already?!?! how can something so preventable be so deadly?!?! we need to get vaccinated ASAP!!! my friends who haven't gotten their shots are literally putting themselves and others at risk let's spread awareness and encourage everyone to get vaccinated!!!

Ugh this is crazy measles outbreak in SC is like, getting outta control! 111 cases already? That's wild... I mean, I know some people might not wanna get vaccinated or whatever but come on 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

measles outbreak is getting worse in south carolina , like 90% of kids in some areas aren't fully vaccinated . 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 .

its crazy how low those vaccination rates are in south carolina i mean we all know vaccines save lives but come on people 90% isnt even close to what its supposed to be and now were seeing a huge outbreak because of it measles isnt no joke either, its like the ultimate superbug so yeah gotta get vaccinated or else you might become part of that statistic

the low vaccine rates are defo a major concern here in an area with 90% K-12 vaccinated kids, you'd think they'd be protected but nope, it's like the whole state is just...not getting it . i mean, measles is literally one of the easiest diseases to prevent with two doses of the mmr vaccine, so what's going on? and yeah, the quarantine numbers are pretty wild too - 254 people stuck in a bubble for three weeks, that's just crazy . 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

This is so crazy ! I'm all for people making their own decisions about what they want to put in their bodies, but measles is like, super contagious and can be deadly . If most of the infected people are unvaccinated, it just means those 111 cases could've been prevented with just a couple of shots .

I feel for the parents who aren't vaccinating their kids because they think it's not necessary, but honestly, measles is like, super hard to catch once you're vaccinated . And with schools and communities being quarantined, it's just so inconvenient for families .

We need to get more people vaccinated ASAP , especially if they're around kids who can't get vaccinated yet . It's not fair that some states are having outbreaks while others aren't, we should all be looking out for each other .

The CDC needs to do a better job of spreading awareness and educating people about the importance of vaccinations . We shouldn't have to rely on someone like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. telling us what's good for us .

Ugh this is crazy ! Measles outbreak in SC? Come on people get vaccinated already!!! 111 cases already?! How many more do we need to see before ppl start taking it seriously ? Low vaccination rates are killing us here, especially among kids. Like what's the point of even having schools if they're not gonna protect these kids . The CDC is right, if we don't get our numbers up, we'll lose that "measles-free" status and it'll be a disaster. And what's with all the drama from Kennedy? Like calm down dude and focus on helping people instead of stirring up controversy . Get vaccinated, stay safe, and let's stop this outbreak already !

omg can you believe this?! the whole state is in chaos because people are too busy sipping hot cocoa with their families during the holidays to think about protecting themselves against a highly contagious virus ... 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

i'm so tired of people using misinformation to downplay the severity of measles ... if you can get infected with just 3% chance, then what's the point of even having a vaccine? and don't even get me started on those who claim they're 'personal champions' of science because they refused to vaccinate themselves or their kids

it's time for us all to take responsibility for our own health and the health of those around us we can't rely on just anyone else to make decisions about our well-being, especially when it comes to something as simple yet critical as vaccination ... me, for one, is going to be making sure my family and i stay up-to-date on all our vaccinations, no questions asked

I'm really worried about this measles outbreak in South Carolina. It's crazy to think that 90% of kids in some areas aren't vaccinated against it. Like, what if your kid gets sick and you're all out of luck? We need to make sure everyone's getting those shots so we can stay safe. I'm not surprised the CDC is warning us about losing our "measles-free" status – we've been seeing this trend across the US for a while now. It's like, we know how to prevent it, but some people just don't care (or maybe they're just misinformed?). I wish more parents would take their kids to get vaccinated on time, especially during flu season when the risk is higher. Anyway, I hope this outbreak doesn't worsen and that health officials can keep a close eye on things. We need to protect ourselves!

This measles outbreak is getting outta control in SC! With hundreds under quarantine and low vaccination rates, it's like a ticking time bomb just waiting to happen . I mean, 90% of kids are missing out on the MMR vaccine? That's crazy talk! And now we're risking losing our "measles-free" status in the US? No thanks!

I'm not buying all this blame-shifting on Dr. Bell and the health department . It's time to own up to the issue and take responsibility for getting more people vaccinated, especially young ones ‍. 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 .

We need to get serious about vaccination rates and support our health officials in getting the word out . Vaccines save lives, folks! So let's all do our part and make sure we're up-to-date on our shots .

oh man this is crazy how low the vaccination rates are in SC, like 90%? that's super alarming! 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. the CDC is right, if we don't get our numbers up, we'll lose that "measles-free" status for real...

this is just great - another outbreak in the US and it's all because people aren't taking care of themselves like those who haven't gotten vaccinated are gonna magically catch a cold instead of measles lol nope, they're still gonna get sick and spread it to others. 90% vaccination rate? that's crazy low what's wrong with these parents? do they not care about their kids' health or something? it's just gonna keep spreading until we have a massive outbreak on our hands

Wow! 90% low K-12 vaccine rates are crazy! Kids can get measles with just a 3% chance if they haven't had both doses how many parents not thinking about this stuff? And now hundreds are quarantined, it's so stressful for families... Interesting.

I'm worried about the kids in SC, 90% not vaccinated is crazy low! What's going on? We're living in a world where you can get sick from just being near someone who hasn't been vaccinated... it's like they didn't know this was even possible. I mean, I know some people might be hesitant about vaccines or have misconceptions, but 90% is just insane! 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. It's like the state is making it easy for the virus to spread. We need to do better here. Our country can't afford to lose its "measles-free" status!

meh, whats up with these super-low vaccination rates in SC?! 90% is straight whack! gotta get those kids vaccinated ASAP or else they'll be spreading the measles around like its nobodies business...and trust me, their parents dont wanna hear about it when their little ones get sick . CDC is right, unvaxxed folks are basically guaranteed to catch this thing...like 99% chance lol . 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"?