South Carolina Hospitals Aren’t Required to Disclose Measles-Related Admissions. That Leaves Doctors in the Dark.

South Carolina is experiencing the nation's largest measles outbreak since its elimination 25 years ago, with nearly 1,000 reported cases. However, the state does not require hospitals to report measles-related admissions. This lack of mandatory reporting leaves doctors, like one pediatrician in a neighboring county, unaware of the severity and complications of the disease. Some doctors are relying on informal communication channels for information. While available data suggests a low hospitalization rate of 2%, some experts fear significant underreporting due to the absence of real-time data and comprehensive tracking of measles cases requiring hospital care.

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