South Carolina Measles Outbreak Spreads to North Carolina and Beyond: What You Need to Know

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A measles outbreak has been found in Spartanburg, South Carolina, hitting neighboring North Carolina hard, but there have also been documented outbreaks as far away as Ohio and Washington stemming from the same outbreak.

The disease is on the rise across the country, along with an increase in parents who are avoiding vaccinations for their children, many filing for non-medical exemptions from school requirements. This spread is mainly concentrated in communities with high levels of antivax sentiment, although people who cannot get vaccinated and some with compromised immune systems may also be at risk.

Here’s what parents should know about the current outbreak and how to protect their children from it.

Spartanburg, SC, is the epicenter of this outbreak

The outbreak began in Spartanburg, and according to WYFF4, the majority of cases are still there, with additional cases appearing in Greenville, Anderson and Columbia. However, the four most recent known exposure locations, including the South Carolina State Museum and the Walmart on Cedar Springs Road, mean that until at least Jan. 28, officials say people in the area who may have been exposed should be on the lookout for symptoms.

As of Friday the 16th, there are 531 people in quarantine and 85 people in isolation. An additional 124 infections were confirmed between Tuesday and Friday. Of the total 558 confirmed cases, 483 are in unvaccinated individuals; 6 in partially vaccinated individuals; and 56 of unknown status. Only 13 cases occurred among fully vaccinated individuals, highlighting how rare infections are when protected.

The state has tried Identify people exposed to the disease and quarantine them, but during the Christmas holidays, Post and Courier Many families report traveling to visit loved ones, and there is evidence that some did Measles for riding.

“A family from South Carolina traveled to the Seattle area from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1 before returning. The family visited at least four cities and hit three different restaurants, a church and a trampoline park, before leaving a rental car and flying out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the health department reported.

Upon return, the family reported symptoms in their children. Now two Seattle schools are closed due to exposure.

Neighboring North Carolina SC is suffering from the outbreak

North Carolina health officials are reportedly not considering the cases in their state a separate outbreak. Instead, they trace these back to Spartanburg Contagion. (There are two basic ways to trace the origin of an outbreak: by tracing contacts and by comparing strands of the virus, which can mutate over time.)

However, describing it as part of the Spartanburg disaster doesn’t mean NC is ignoring the problem. As of Friday, NC officials are reporting 8 confirmed cases in 8 counties. That’s one case each in Carabass, Rutherford, and Polk counties, and 5 in Buncombe. Although the state is not releasing much identifying information for privacy reasons, officials shared Thursday that the two new cases involved unvaccinated siblings.

Health officials in North Carolina are urging parents to make sure their children are up-to-date on vaccines, including the MMR vaccine that protects against measles (as well as mumps and rubella).

What should parents look for?

If you think your child may have been exposed to someone infected with measles, contact your local health department. They may request that your child be quarantined for a period of time.

It can take 7 to 14 days from the time your child is exposed to the virus to start showing symptoms. However, your child can be contagious as early as 4 days before measles appears, meaning that you could be spreading measles to loved ones and strangers before you know your child has the virus.

Common symptoms can be mild in most people, but can be more severe in children under 5, adults over 20, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems. According to the CDC, these groups are more likely to experience more complications.

Even symptoms described as “mild” can be debilitating. They usually begin with a high fever (possibly 104° or higher), cough and runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

After a few days, white spots appear on the mouth, followed by rash spots. According to the CDC:

“It usually starts as bright red spots on the face along the hairline. They then spread down the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.”

This is usually accompanied by an additional fever spike.

The most common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. More serious complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain, which can lead to permanent deafness or intellectual disability). Measles can cause premature birth in pregnant women.

Vaccination and herd immunity are key

Not everyone can get the measles vaccine.

Children usually receive the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. The CDC says the vaccine can be given to children younger than 6 months of age if they are at increased risk (such as living in an area with a current outbreak), and children in similar circumstances can receive their second dose at an earlier age than usual.

However, most children under 4 years of age will not be fully vaccinated, and children under 6 months of age cannot receive the MMR vaccine. (Side note: 1 in 5 people infected with measles will be hospitalized, the risk is much higher for children under five.)

Recent changes in vaccine schedules and recommendations at the federal level, as well as the spread of antivax conspiracy theories and sentiments, can further complicate this, leaving many children unvaccinated at the point where they would normally receive their shots.

Some people with specific medical conditions, including prior allergic reactions to some components of the vaccine, may also be unable to receive the vaccine.

A small percentage of fully vaccinated individuals may still not be protected against the virus due to conditions, including immune disorders, of which they may or may not be aware. On the contrary, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases It is estimated that approximately 90% of unvaccinated persons exposed to the virus will develop the infection.

However, it is impossible to contract the virus without exposure, which means that maintaining high vaccination rates nationwide can keep infection rates close to zero.