South Carolina Health Officials Warn of Irreversible Neurological Damage as Measles Outbreak Intensifies

South Carolina health officials are raising alarms about potentially irreversible neurological damage in children as measles cases continue to surge throughout the state, with hospitalizations climbing due to severe complications.

The upstate region has confirmed 876 measles cases in the ongoing outbreak, with at least 19 patients hospitalized for serious complications, according to state epidemiologist Linda Bell during a recent briefing.

“Some of these complications include measles encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, in children and pneumonia,” Bell explained. She emphasized that brain inflammation poses particularly severe risks for young patients. “Any time you have inflammation of the brain… there can be long-term consequences, things like developmental delays and impacts on the neurologic system that can be irreversible.”

The outbreak has significantly disrupted education in the region, with 147 students currently quarantined across 10 K-12 schools. Health officials note this figure represents only those directly impacted by isolation requirements, not accounting for the broader educational disruption caused by the outbreak.

While South Carolina does not systematically track every medical complication from measles, CDC data indicates pneumonia affects approximately one in every 20 infected children, making it the leading cause of measles-related death among young patients.

The outbreak has created additional concerns for pregnant women, who cannot receive the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine during pregnancy. Several expectant mothers have required emergency treatment with immune globulin to provide “passive immunity” against the virus.

“This treatment is critical to protect them against the high risk of complications during pregnancy and to protect their newborn babies,” Bell noted. Newborns are particularly vulnerable to measles, as routine vaccination typically begins at 12 months of age.

Public health experts continue to stress the extreme contagiousness of the measles virus. Unlike many respiratory illnesses, measles can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room, making transmission particularly difficult to control in public spaces.

In response to the crisis, South Carolina experienced a dramatic surge in vaccination rates during January. Spartanburg County, one of the hardest-hit areas, reported a 162% increase in MMR vaccinations compared to the previous year.

“I’m hoping that what we can attribute [the vaccine surge] to is a wider recognition of the threat of this disease circulating in our communities and the desire for people to be protected against the complications,” Bell said.

The situation has become more concerning as a new case was recently identified in the Pee Dee region, suggesting the virus may be spreading beyond the initial upstate clusters through “unrecognized community transmission.” This geographic expansion raises the possibility of a statewide epidemic if containment efforts are unsuccessful.

The current outbreak represents a significant setback for U.S. public health. Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000 following decades of successful vaccination campaigns. However, declining vaccination rates in certain communities have created pockets of vulnerability where the highly contagious disease can rapidly spread.

Health officials continue urging the public to ensure they and their children are fully vaccinated against measles. “These are complications we hope to prevent,” Bell emphasized. “Increasing vaccination coverage protects those who cannot be vaccinated, like young infants, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.”

The outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when preventable diseases resurge in communities with inadequate immunity levels. Public health experts warn that maintaining high vaccination rates remains essential for preventing similar outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable diseases.