Measles Outbreak in South Carolina Leads to Brain Swelling in Children
A measles outbreak in South Carolina, which began in October, has surged to 876 cases as of February 3, with 700 of those cases reported since the start of the year, according to state epidemiologist Linda Bell. Some children infected in the outbreak have developed encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, a serious complication of the disease, Bell said on Wednesday.
The surge in cases in South Carolina could signal another challenging year for the United States, which experienced more than 2,267 measles cases in 2025, the highest number in 30 years, according to Wired. Declining vaccination rates across the country are believed to be a significant factor driving the resurgence of the disease.
Encephalitis is a rare but severe complication of measles that can lead to convulsions and cause deafness or intellectual disability, according to Wired.
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