Why South Carolina Hospitals Have Reported Few Measles-Related Admissions Despite Growing Outbreak
ProPublica • • health
Key Points:
- South Carolina is experiencing the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in 25 years, with 973 reported cases, but only 20 measles-related hospital admissions have been officially reported, suggesting significant underreporting.
- The state does not require hospitals to report measles hospitalizations, limiting public health officials' ability to track the severity of the outbreak and complicating doctors' efforts to inform patients accurately.
- Medical professionals emphasize that measles can cause serious complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, and dehydration, particularly in unvaccinated children and pregnant women, but political pressures and vaccine hesitancy are hindering transparent communication.
- Health care systems in South Carolina face political and social pressures that contribute to cautious or limited information sharing about
