The S.C. measles outbreak spreads as vaccine exemptions rise : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- South Carolina has reported 124 new measles cases in three days, totaling 558 cases in a rapidly escalating outbreak centered in Spartanburg County, with cases nearly doubling in the past week.
- The outbreak primarily affects unvaccinated children and teens, with vaccination rates in Spartanburg County at 90%, below the 95% threshold needed to prevent measles spread; some schools have rates as low as 20%.
- Nonmedical vaccine exemptions have increased significantly in Spartanburg County, rising from 3% in 2020 to about 8% currently, contributing to vulnerability and widespread public exposures in places like churches, restaurants, and healthcare settings.
- A recent JAMA study reveals a nationwide rise in nonmedical exemptions to
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