Khaberni - The American health authorities are tightening isolation measures with a rise in measles cases, registering hundreds of cases since September amid warnings of wider spread.
The health authorities in the United States announced that the Southern states are witnessing a concerning increase in highly contagious measles cases, which has prompted authorities to implement extensive quarantine and isolation measures, affecting hundreds of people, despite infections among some fully vaccinated individuals.
According to the British "Daily Mail", public health departments in South Carolina warned of recording more than 100 new cases in just one week. The state's public health department confirmed, in the last 24 hours, the detection of 124 new cases, raising the total registered infections since September 2025 to 434 cases.
The spread of the disease led to 409 people being quarantined, in addition to isolating another 17 individuals, with the latest round of quarantine measures ending on February 6th next year. The health authorities also announced the confirmation of a measles case in the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia on January 2nd, between 1 PM and 5 PM, without the individual knowing they were infected at the time, which put all those present during that period at risk of infection.
The Public Health Department, in an official statement, urged anyone who was present in the museum during the specified time to contact healthcare providers if any symptoms appear, or if they are unsure of having sufficient immunity against the disease. They also emphasized the importance of monitoring health conditions until January 23rd, especially for those unvaccinated or those who have never had measles before.
The health authorities clarified that measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can be prevented through vaccines. Symptoms typically start with flu-like symptoms, followed by a rash that begins on the face and gradually spreads to the rest of the body. In severe cases, the disease may lead to serious complications including pneumonia, seizures, encephalitis, permanent damage to the nervous system, and even death.
The measles virus is transmitted through airborne droplets or through direct contact, and an infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears to four days after. The public health departments advised anyone potentially exposed to the virus to monitor symptoms for up to 21 days.
Despite the official declaration of measles eradication in the United States in 2000 due to widespread vaccination programs, a decline in community immunity levels to below 93%, compared to the safe rate of 95%, raises concerns among authorities about the potential scale of infections in 2026.
Transmission of measles is particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces such as airports and airplanes, where the virus easily spreads through the air. The disease attacks the respiratory system in its initial stages, then moves to the lymph glands and the rest of the body, potentially affecting the lungs and the central nervous system, particularly in malnourished children.
