Measles Outbreak in South Carolina
At least 153 unvaccinated students from two schools in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, are under quarantine for 21 days due to measles exposures, according to state health officials.
The schools affected are Global Academy of South Carolina and Fairforest Elementary. The outbreak has grown to at least eight measles cases, with a total of 11 cases reported overall in the state this year.
Nationally,
there have been 44 measles outbreaks reported this year, compared to 16 outbreaks last year, with at least 1,563 measles cases reported this year, the highest number since 1992, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
This surge in measles cases comes amid declining MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination rates nationwide, with MMR vaccination rates among kindergarteners falling from over 95% prior to the pandemic to 92.5% in the most recent school year.
Author's summary: Measles outbreak in South Carolina leads to quarantine of 153 students.