Super-Contagion: Mass Quarantine

In South Carolina, a significant number of students are facing quarantine measures following exposure to measles, a highly contagious diseas...

In South Carolina, a significant number of students are facing quarantine measures following exposure to measles, a highly contagious disease that was once considered eliminated in the United States. Health officials are working to contain the outbreak and urge vaccination.

Student Quarantine and Exposure Details

As of Wednesday, health officials in South Carolina confirmed that 139 students are under quarantine in South Carolina schools. These students are unvaccinated against measles, rendering them susceptible to infection. Initially, 153 students were quarantined, but subsequent investigations reduced the number by 14.

The affected schools include Global Academy and Fairforest Elementary School in Spartanburg County, located approximately 90 miles west of Charlotte. These schools are collaborating with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to implement recommended precautionary measures.

Measles Outbreak in South Carolina

South Carolina has reported 16 confirmed cases of measles since July, contributing to a nationwide resurgence of the disease. This outbreak is the largest since 1992, when approximately 2,100 cases were reported. Across the United States, nearly 1,600 Americans have been infected this year, and three have died.

Dr. Linda Bell, a state epidemiologist, indicated that a Crunch Fitness location in Greenville, near Spartanburg County, was identified as the source of exposure for one child in September. The origins of other potential exposures remain under investigation.

Vaccination and Herd Immunity

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective, with a 97 percent success rate in preventing infection after two doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The standard vaccination schedule involves the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between ages four and six. The exact ages of the exposed children have not been disclosed.

Herd immunity, which protects even unvaccinated individuals, requires a vaccination rate of 95 percent. However, the national vaccination rate among kindergarteners is only 92.5 percent, falling short of the necessary threshold. In South Carolina, the rate is even lower, at 91 percent, with one in 20 children having exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

Health Official's Concerns

Dr. Bell expressed concern about the declining vaccination coverage in South Carolina. She emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating that the MMR vaccine provides lifelong immunity to most vaccinated individuals and is the key to containing the virus. She strongly urged unvaccinated individuals to consider getting vaccinated as soon as possible.

Measles: Symptoms, Transmission, and Complications

Measles is a highly contagious, yet preventable, disease caused by a virus. Symptoms include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• A characteristic rash that begins on the face and spreads down the body

In severe cases, measles can lead to:

• Pneumonia
• Seizures
• Brain inflammation
• Permanent brain damage
• Death

The virus spreads through direct contact with infectious droplets or through the air. Individuals with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after. Unvaccinated individuals have a 90 percent chance of contracting measles if exposed, even through brief contact or sharing the same air with an infected person. Approximately three in 1,000 people who contract measles will die. Deaths typically result from acute encephalitis (brain swelling) or pneumonia.

Historical Impact of Measles

Before the introduction of the two-dose childhood vaccine in 1968, measles caused significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Annually, there were up to 500 deaths, 48,000 hospitalizations, and 1,000 cases of brain swelling. An estimated three million to four million people were infected each year.