South Carolina Measles Outbreak Hits 700 CasesThe measles outbreak in South Carolina hit 700 known cases on Friday, state health officials announced on the same day the federal government's vaccine panel chair suggested shots against the disease should be optional.Fifty-four of those cases were confirmed in the last three days, officials said. Nearly 90% of the cases are in unvaccinated people, and by age, nearly 90% of the cases are in people under 18, with nearly 300 elementary, middle and high school students in quarantine.The state said it's aware of 12 people requiring hospitalizations from measles."Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and stop this outbreak," the department urged.See All Updates