- Luke Taylor
- Rio de Janeiro
South Carolina has confirmed 15 cases of measles and quarantined 139 unvaccinated children in the hope of stemming the latest outbreak of the disease in the US.
The city of Spartanburg was the latest in the state to report another three confirmed measles cases on Friday 17 October. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in South Carolina this year to 15.
They add to the 1596 cases identified nationally—the US’s highest tally since 1992—and another sign that the country might lose the measles-free certification it achieved in 2000.1
Officials said that vaccine coverage in the most affected area in Spartanburg is around 90%, below the estimated herd immunity threshold of 95%. South Carolina state epidemiologist Linda Bell told local news that despite health authorities responding quickly it is likely that cases will …
