South Carolina children who have contracted cases of the measles virus in recent months have also been affected by worrisome and sometimes fatal complications, a state epidemiologist said Wednesday.
Some people suffer from an inflammatory brain disease called encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain that can lead to seizures, intellectual disability, and even death.
It’s unclear how many children develop encephalitis, but Dr. Linda Bell told reporters that whenever people develop known complications of measles, “there can be long-term consequences, such as developmental delays and effects on the nervous system that are irreversible.”
“We want to prevent anyone from developing this potential complication,” she said.
Data released Tuesday by the South Carolina Department of Public Health shows that the majority of the state’s 876 cases are children, with 233 cases under the age of 5 and 555 between the ages of 5 and 17.
Health officials say more than 200 of the state’s 876 measles cases have been in children under five years old. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Encephalitis usually occurs within 30 days of initial measles infection. Statistics show that 10% to 15% of children who contract measles encephalitis die wired.
And encephalitis isn’t the only complication health authorities have identified as a result of the infection.
Bell noted that since the measles outbreak began in October, South Carolina has seen cases of pneumonia, a leading cause of death among children around the world, and 19 people have been hospitalized with measles-related complications.
“These are complications we want to prevent, and increasing vaccination coverage can protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems,” she said.
The majority of cases (up to 95%) are in unvaccinated individuals. The trend has been seen in other outbreaks across the country since last year, though South Carolina’s outbreak is now the largest of another outbreak in West Texas that has sickened hundreds of people.
Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine provide lifelong protection for 97 percent of people, which is how the United States eliminated the highly contagious measles virus in 2000.
Last year, a mother and daughter attended a vaccine clinic together in West Texas. The number of cases in South Carolina has since exceeded the number reported in the Lone Star State outbreak (Getty Images)
But doctors say rising vaccine hesitancy and misinformation is leaving communities unprotected.
“There is also a misconception that measles is just a common childhood infection that is not important,” Dr. Sruti Nadimpalli of Stanford University School of Medicine explained in a statement. “In fact, it suppresses the immune system and the potential complications are serious, including severe weakness and death.”
In the Palmetto State, however, the tables are starting to turn.
Bell said the number of vaccinations increased significantly last month: the largest since the pandemic began.
“No vaccine can prevent 100 percent infection, but the MMR vaccine is one of the most effective at preventing infection,” she said.
