Measles Makes a Comeback in South Carolina

South Carolina is facing a growing measles outbreak, with 114 confirmed cases as of December 10. Most of these cases are in the upstate region, and nearly all of them are in unvaccinated people. The state's health officials have put 254 people in quarantine, including 16 in isolation. The outbreak is linked to recent gatherings at the Way of Truth Church in Inman. The church has been working with health officials to stop the spread. The outbreak is happening at a time when there is a lot of debate about vaccines in the U. S. The country has seen a rise in measles cases, with 1, 912 cases reported this year alone. Measles is highly contagious. Up to 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to the virus will get sick. People can spread the virus for four days before they even show symptoms. The virus can also stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room. The U. S. declared measles eliminated in 2000, but that status is now at risk. Health officials are worried that the country could lose its measles-free status if the outbreak continues. They are urging people to get vaccinated to stop the spread. Measles can be deadly, especially for young children. The CDC estimates that 1 to 2 out of every 1, 000 children who get measles will die, often from pneumonia. Earlier this year, two girls in Texas died during another large outbreak, and officials suspect a man in New Mexico also died of measles. Health officials expect the outbreak in South Carolina to continue for many more weeks unless more people get vaccinated. They are urging people to consider the effectiveness of the vaccine and the seriousness of the disease.