More than 150 unvaccinated children in South Carolina are spending the next 21 days in quarantine after being exposed to measles.
The disease is one the U.S. had once nearly wiped out.
The exposed students, from two Spartanburg County schools, are now stuck at home during the virus’s contagious window.
It’s the latest chapter in America’s growing measles problem — one that’s now hit a 33-year high, with 1,563 confirmed cases so far, according to the CDC.
“This tells us there’s active, unrecognized community transmission,” warned the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
It confirmed its eighth case in just two weeks.
Measles Makes A Comeback
Once thought of as a relic of the past, measles has roared back — largely among unvaccinated populations.
The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, is 97% effective. Yet skepticism and misinformation have left dangerous gaps in immunity.
The U.S. isn’t alone. Canada has reported more than 5,000 cases, over triple America’s tally.
Outbreaks are rising in over 100 countries, UNICEF says.
So what’s fueling the comeback of a disease once considered defeated?
Experts say complacency — and vaccine hesitancy — are a deadly mix. Because when science is ignored, old enemies don’t stay gone for long.
