Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on the measles outbreak in Spartanburg County, South Carolina:
Key Facts & Statistics:
* Outbreak Scale: Nearly 800 measles cases in South Carolina, with the vast majority (756 out of 789) occurring in Spartanburg County.
* Hospitalizations: 18 children and adults have been hospitalized due to measles.
* Vaccination Status: 692 out of the nearly 800 cases are among unvaccinated individuals.
* Age Group Affected: More than half of those affected are children between 5 and 17 years old.
* School Involvement: 20 schools are currently involved in the outbreak.
Response & Actions Taken:
* Dedicated Shelter: Spartanburg County and SCDPH opened a shelter during a recent ice storm specifically for individuals with measles to help contain the spread.
* Urgent Care Protocol: Urgent care facilities are advising individuals who suspect they have measles to stay in their cars.
* Vaccination Advocacy: Local officials (Mayor Rice, Councilmember Abusaft) are strongly advocating for vaccination.Vaccination within 72 hours of exposure can still prevent infection.
* Community Support: Councilmember Walker is helping people access medical care if they don’t have a doctor.
* Workplace Caution: Councilmember Abusaft encourages his staff to err on the side of caution if they feel sick.
Perspectives from Officials:
* Mayor Jerome Rice: Emphasizes the seriousness of the situation (wife’s illness, urgent care protocol) and the effectiveness of vaccination.
* Councilmember Bob Walker: Focuses on helping people access healthcare.
* Councilmember Mo Abusaft: links the vaccination gap to a broader distrust of scientific and medical expertise that has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic and encourages constituents to consult their doctors.
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