The measles outbreak in South Carolina continues to expand, with state health officials reporting 124 new cases since Friday, bringing the total tied to the Upstate outbreak to 434.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), 409 people are currently in quarantine and 17 are in isolation, with the latest quarantine period ending Feb. 6.
New Public Exposure in Columbia
DPH confirmed that an infectious individual visited the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia on Friday, January 2, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Anyone at the museum during that window may have been exposed.
Measles symptoms typically appear 7–14 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days. People without immunity who were at the museum are asked to monitor for symptoms through January 23 and contact a health care provider if they become ill.
Symptoms include cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and fever, followed by a rash that begins on the face and spreads downward.
Vaccination Clinics This Week
In response to the growing outbreak, DPH will deploy its Mobile Health Unit to offer free MMR and flu vaccinations at the following locations:
- 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 14 Unitarian Universalist Church, 320-Wheeler Court, Spartanburg
- 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Thursday, January 15 Same location
DPH says the MMR vaccine remains the most effective protection against measles. Vaccination within 72 hours of exposure may prevent infection.
North Carolina Confirms Three Measles Cases Linked to South Carolina Outbreak
North Carolina health officials have confirmed three measles cases in Buncombe County, all in siblings who recently traveled to Spartanburg County, S.C., where the outbreak is centered. The children became ill one to two weeks after the trip, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
NCDHHS also issued a public exposure notice for the Mission Hospital Emergency Department waiting room in Asheville. Anyone who was in the waiting area at 509 Biltmore Ave. between 2:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on January 4 may have been exposed.
State health officials say they are working with Buncombe County Health and Human Services and Mission Hospital to identify and notify potentially exposed individuals. These are the first confirmed measles cases in North Carolina tied to the South Carolina outbreak.
As of Wednesday, there is no indication that the South Carolina outbreak has affected Brunswick or Columbus counties.
Be the first to comment