South Carolina has declared an end to its measles outbreak, which sickened 997 people and became the worst in the U.S. in over 35 years. State health officials announced Monday that no new cases had been reported for 42 days, marking the official end of the outbreak.
Key Takeaways
South Carolina has declared an end to its worst measles outbreak in over 35 years after 997 cases and at least 21 hospitalizations. The outbreak was contained due to increased vaccinations and public health efforts.
- South Carolina's measles outbreak is officially over, with no new cases reported for 42 days
- The outbreak sickened nearly 1,000 people since October, with at least 21 hospitalized
- Increased vaccination rates and public health measures helped contain the spread
The outbreak, centered in northwestern Spartanburg County, was contained due to a combination of factors, including timely investigations and increased vaccination rates. According to PBS NewsHour, state health officials estimate the outbreak response cost $2.1 million. The virus primarily affected unvaccinated individuals, with 932 cases among those who had not received the vaccine.
The outbreak's rapid growth was initially alarming, with over 650 cases confirmed in January alone. However, a decline in cases began as more people got vaccinated. Public health workers administered nearly 82,000 measles vaccines from October to March, an increase of more than 30% compared to the same period the previous year.
The outbreak's end has given health workers a slight reprieve, but concerns remain about ongoing outbreaks in other parts of the country. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,792 measles cases so far this year, with 22 new outbreaks. Florida has confirmed 134 cases, while Texas has reported 180 cases. An outbreak on the Arizona-Utah border has sickened 607 people in Utah and 282 in Mohave County, Arizona.
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