Measles Spreading Again: Outbreaks Worsen in South Carolina, Arizona, and Utah

Measles outbreaks are back and how. The highly contagious viral illness is growing along the Utah-Arizona border and in South Carolina, where hundreds are in quarantine. Officials in South Carolina have

confirmed at least 27 new cases of measles in and around Spartanburg County. In the last two months, more than 100 people have been sickened by the vaccine-preventable virus. More than 250 people, including school students, have been put un quarantine, many for the second time since the outbreak happened earlier this year. Similarly, in Arizona and Utah, the outbreak, which has ballooned since August, has logged more than 170 cases. The border cities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, are the hardest hit.

More than 2,000 cases across the United States

Nationally, the measles case count is nearing 2,000 for a disease that has been considered eliminated in the country since 2000. According to experts, cases have mostly spread among unvaccinated people. According to doctors, the spread of the outbreaks is due to the fact that most parents have been withholding their children from vaccination. The combined MMR vaccine is safe and provides 97 per cent protection against the disease after two doses, according to the CDC. Most children in the U.S. are required to get the MMR shot to attend school. But vaccination rates have declined as more parents waive the shots or have fallen behind on recommended vaccination schedules.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus. It causes a widespread rash and flu-like symptoms. But measles is not just a rash. It can make you severely ill and lead to life-threatening complications like brain inflammation and pneumonia. It can also make you more likely to get sick with other infections. Before it was part of routine childhood immunizations, measles caused millions of deaths around the world. There are still cases in the US every year. There’s no specific treatment or cure.

Signs and symptoms of measles

Measles symptoms include:

• High fever
• Barky cough
• Red or bloodshot eyes
• Runny nose
• Tiredness
• Red spots with white centers in your mouth
• Rashes all over the body
• Rashes
• Digestive symptoms, like diarrhoea, stomach pains, and vomiting
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Headaches

According to doctors, measles symptoms do not appear all at once. A fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes may appear first. Koplik’s spots might appear two to three days later and fade when the rash begins. The rash appears three to five days after your initial symptoms start. A high fever may develop with the rash. Measles is highly contagious, which means it spreads easily from person to person. Experts estimate that if one person in a room of unvaccinated people has measles, 9 out of 10 people in the room will catch it. You are contagious about four days before you develop a rash until about four days after the rash starts.