Health authorities urge Spartanburg residents to get the measles vaccine

The SC Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends the measles vaccine. As of December 30, there are 176 measles cases in Spartanburg, despite the availability of the vaccine. There are 3 other cases reported in the state, says DPH.

The outbreak, linked to declining vaccine rates, has triggered the surge, leading to hospitalizations and hundreds of quarantines. Most patients are unvaccinated, the DPH said.

These numbers are high. For comparison, this year, New York state has seen 26 cases, and California has seen 24. Seven states have reported zero cases: Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia.