What's happened
A measles outbreak in South Carolina has grown to 111 cases, with ongoing transmission linked to low vaccination rates and holiday gatherings. Similar outbreaks are ongoing in Arizona and Utah, threatening US measles elimination status. Experts warn that declining vaccination and increased travel are fueling the resurgence of the disease.
What's behind the headline?
The resurgence of measles in the US underscores the fragility of herd immunity when vaccination rates fall below 95%. The outbreak in South Carolina, driven by low vaccination coverage and social factors like holiday gatherings, exemplifies how easily measles can re-establish itself in communities. The connection to low coverage in counties with high exemption rates highlights the impact of vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation. The historical context shows that once the disease was eliminated, complacency and misinformation have allowed it to return, threatening public health gains. Moving forward, targeted vaccination campaigns and addressing misinformation are critical to prevent further outbreaks. The situation also illustrates how interconnected global health is, as outbreaks in the US are part of a broader pattern of resurgence seen in other regions, emphasizing the need for sustained immunization efforts.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the outbreak in South Carolina has grown to 111 cases, with ongoing transmission expected to continue for weeks, driven by low vaccination rates and holiday gatherings. The CDC confirms that nearly 2,000 cases have been reported nationwide this year, the highest in over three decades, with outbreaks also ongoing in Arizona and Utah. Ars Technica highlights that the outbreak rivals those in Arizona and Utah, with the threat of losing the US's measles elimination status if transmission continues into January. The New York Times emphasizes the community spread in Spartanburg County, noting vaccination coverage below the 95% threshold and high exemption rates. All sources agree that declining vaccination and misinformation are key factors fueling the resurgence, with experts warning that climate, trade, and social factors contributed to the initial spread during the 1340s Black Death pandemic, drawing parallels to current global health challenges.
How we got here
The current measles outbreak is linked to declining vaccination rates in several US states, compounded by low coverage in certain counties and high exemption rates. The outbreak coincides with increased travel and social gatherings during the holiday season, facilitating virus transmission. Historically, measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but recent declines in vaccination have led to a resurgence, with nearly 2,000 cases reported this year, the highest in over three decades. Experts attribute this to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, which have reduced immunization coverage below the herd immunity threshold.
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More on these topics
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South Carolina is a state in the Southeastern United States and the easternmost of the Deep South. It is bordered to the north by North Carolina, to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the southwest by Georgia across the Savannah River.
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The Black Death was the deadliest pandemic recorded in human history. The Black Death resulted in the deaths of up to 75–200 million people in Eurasia and North Africa, peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351.
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Yersinia pestis is a gram-negative, non-motile,
rod-shaped, coccobacillus bacterium, without spores that is related to both Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica.
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Measles (probably from Middle Dutch or Middle High German masel(e), meaning "blemish, blood blister") is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by measles virus. Other names include morbilli, rubeola, 9-day measles, red measles
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Utah is a state in the western United States. It is bordered by Colorado to the east, Wyoming to the northeast, Idaho to the north, Arizona to the south, and Nevada to the west. It also touches a corner of New Mexico in the southeast.
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Arizona is a state in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the Western and the Mountain states. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a national public health institute in the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.