Measles outbreaks are growing along the Utah-Arizona border and in South Carolina, where hundreds of people are under quarantine.
Between Friday and Tuesday, South Carolina health officials confirmed 27 new cases of measles in an outbreak in northwestern Spartanburg County and the surrounding area. Over two months, 111 people fell ill. vaccine-preventable virus.
More than 250 people, including students from the area's nine elementary, middle and high schools, are in quarantine – some for the second time since the outbreak began in October. Most of the state's new cases stem from revelations at Path of Truth Church in Inman. Church leaders have been “very helpful,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell.
“We are faced with ongoing transmission of the virus that we expect will continue for many weeks, at least in our state,” Bell said.
In Arizona and Utah, the outbreak has grown sharply since then. August. Mohave County, Arizona has 172 cases, and Southwestern Utah Department of Public Health has 82 cases. The border cities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, were the hardest hit.
A total of 115 cases of measles have been confirmed in Utah this year. Arizona has confirmed 176 cases.
Nationally, the number of measles cases is approaching 2,000. considered excluded in the United States since 2000 as a result of routine childhood vaccinations.
Last month Canada has lost this designation — this applies when there is no ongoing local spread of the virus, as has occurred in the larger health region of America.
Experts say the United States also risks losing this status. For this to happen, measles must spread continuously throughout the year. Major outbreak in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma which began in January sickened nearly 900 people and ushered in the worst year for measles in the United States in more than three decades.
All but eight states have reported at least one case of measles this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has confirmed 47 outbreaks this year, up from 16 in 2024. Three people – two of them are Texas students – died.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and provides 97% protection against the disease after two doses. Most children in the United States must be vaccinated to attend school. But the vaccination rate refused as more parents refuse vaccinations or fall behind recommended vaccination schedules.
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