Children in South Carolina are developing rare brain swelling complications after measles outbreak
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- South Carolina is experiencing a measles outbreak primarily affecting children, with 876 cases reported, including 233 under age five and 555 between five and 17 years old.
- Some children have developed encephalitis, a serious brain inflammation that can cause seizures, intellectual disability, or death, with a 10-15% mortality rate among those affected.
- Other complications such as pneumonia and 19 hospitalizations have been reported, emphasizing the severity of measles infections beyond the initial illness.
- Approximately 95% of measles cases are in unvaccinated individuals, highlighting the impact of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation on public health.
- Vaccination rates have recently increased significantly in South Carolina, with health officials stressing
