As the measles outbreak in the Upstate has grown to 30 people, including eight new cases this week, South Carolina public health officials addressed disinformation and myths contributing to lower vaccination rates, including that it is better to be infected and get immunity that way than get the shot.

And as the measles outbreak in the Palmetto State continues to grow and one in Utah and Arizona takes off, the U.S. is closer to losing its status since 2000 of having eliminated measles from circulating in the country.

Even before the first cases were confirmed in South Carolina in July, public health officials were watching outbreaks in other parts of the country and anticipating it could happen here, said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the S.C. Department of Public Health.

“We

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