Measles Spreading Fast in South Carolina: What's Going On?

In South Carolina, measles is spreading quickly.

• Location: Mostly in one church and a few schools in Spartanburg county.
• Cases: 111 people have gotten sick.
• Most were not vaccinated.
• Some were only partially vaccinated.
• Quarantine: Over 250 people are now in quarantine.

Growing Number of Cases

• Rapid Increase: The number of cases is growing fast.
• New Cases: In just a few days, 27 new cases were reported.
• Linked to: Many cases are linked to one church and some schools.

Measles: A Serious Disease

• High Risk: Measles can be very dangerous, especially for young children.
• Cases in Kids:
• 20 cases in kids under five.
• 75 cases in kids between five and 17.
• Historical Context: The U.S. thought measles was gone. In 2000, the U.S. said measles was eliminated.

Why Is Measles Spreading?

• Vaccination Rates: Not enough people in South Carolina are getting vaccinated.
• Mixed Messages: Some people are not getting vaccinated because of conflicting information.
• Robert F Kennedy Jr: The health secretary has made statements that make people doubt vaccines but supports the MMR vaccine.

Vaccination Efforts

• MMR Vaccine: Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
• Mobile Health Clinics: Not many people are using the mobile health clinics that offer MMR shots.
• Health Officials' Concern: If more people don't get vaccinated, measles could keep spreading.