More than 150 schoolchildren in South Carolina are under a 21-day quarantine after being exposed to measles, state health officials said. The students, who had not received vaccinations, were required to stay home from school during the period when the disease could spread.
The quarantined children come from two Spartanburg County schools, Global Academy of South Carolina and Fairforest Elementary. Global Academy serves primary-age students, while Fairforest has both primary and secondary school pupils.
This outbreak comes as measles cases surge across the United States, following recent outbreaks in New Mexico and Texas that infected hundreds and left three people dead.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1,563 cases have been confirmed nationwide so far this year, marking the highest number in more than three decades.
On Thursday, the South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed its eighth case in two weeks, this one in Greenville County.
“What this case tells us is that there is active, unrecognized community transmission of measles occurring in the Upstate, which makes it vital to ensure that the public have received their measles vaccinations,” the department said in a release.
The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, is the most effective way to prevent infection. Health experts note that it is 97% effective and can help prevent severe complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, and death.
Beyond South Carolina, measles cases are rising in other states, including Utah and Arizona, which have reported 55 and 63 cases, respectively. Earlier this year, Texas and New Mexico saw hundreds of infections and the first measles-related deaths in the US since 2015, sparking concern across the country.
Most of the infections have been among unvaccinated individuals, highlighting the risks of skipping immunizations.
The situation is not limited to the United States — Canada is also seeing a large number of cases, particularly in Alberta and Ontario. The Canadian government has logged 5,024 cases this year, more than three times the US total despite its smaller population.
The rising numbers have raised questions about the speed of the outbreak and whether authorities are taking sufficient measures to contain it. Globally, measles is also spreading rapidly.
UNICEF reports that in the past five years, outbreaks have occurred in more than 100 countries.In the US, the recent increase has been partly linked to vaccine sceptics, though public figures like Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr have publicly endorsed the safety of the measles vaccine.