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An outbreak for measles, a contagious infection that was once deemed eliminated, is reportedly "accelerating" in South Carolina with no end in sight, state health officials confirmed on Wednesday (December 10) via NBC News.
A total 111 measles cases were reported in upstate South Carolina, a northwestern region of the state that includes Greenville and Spartanburg.
“We are faced with ongoing transmission that we anticipate will go on for many more weeks,” Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, said during a news briefing via NBC News.
The state was already reported to be dealing with a measles outbreak prior to large gatherings on Thanksgiving, with 27 cases reported since Friday (December 5).
"That is a significant increase in our cases in a short period of time,” Bell said, attributing the spike to holiday travel and get-togethers, as well as low vaccination rates.
The K-12 vaccination rate for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) in Spartanburg County was 90% for the 2024-25 school year, while Greenville County had a reported 90.5% vaccination rate, according to NBC News data, which is below the 95% level that doctors say is needed in order to avoid an outbreak. The health department deployed mobile health clinics to upstate South Carolina, however, few people took advantage of the offering.
“I can tell you that a relatively small number of doses was administered at each of the mobile health unit clinics that we offered,” Bell said via NBC News.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health doesn't have any other vaccination clinics planned, according to its website. Measles is considered one of the most contagious known viruses in the world and can hang in the air for hours, with non-vaccinated people nearly always becoming infected if exposed to it.
Bell said 254 people are currently under a three-week quarantine as symptoms can last about 21 days after exposure.