South Carolina officials have identified a measles epidemic in the state, which contributes to the greatest number of cases in the United States since the illness was declared extinct in 2000.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health recorded eight instances in the state’s Upstate region as of Wednesday. A measles outbreak consists of three or more connected cases.
“The people involved in the outbreak are unvaccinated and did not have immunity from a previous measles infection,” the department noted. The government stated that it is alerting anybody who may have been exposed.
So far this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected more than 1,500 cases of measles in 41 states, the highest number in 25 years. According to the CDC, 92% of measles cases are unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown.
“Measles is an airborne, extremely infectious, and potentially severe rash illness,” according to the CDC website. “Before the measles vaccine was introduced, an estimated 48,000 people were hospitalized and 400-500 people died in the United States each year.”
The bulk of cases have been reported in Texas, where two school-aged children died earlier this year after living in epidemic areas. Texas state health officials proclaimed the outbreak officially over in August, despite the fact that cases continued to climb elsewhere.
As cases mount, anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been reshaping the CDC in his own image in an attempt to reduce vaccine mandates.
Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina’s state epidemiologist, anticipates the number of cases to climb.
“We anticipate more cases will be identified and implore community members to act responsibly,” Bell told the crowd. “If you are ill, stay home.”
