South Carolina has reported nearly 100 new measles cases, including two infections in people who were fully vaccinated, and health officials say hundreds more people have likely been exposed. The latest cases bring the total to 310 cases related to the outbreak centered around Spartanburg County. Health officials said there are currently 200 people in quarantine and nine in isolation, but the number of those in quarantine doesn’t reflect the number of people actually exposed. “An increasing number of public exposure sites are being identified with likely hundreds more people exposed who are not aware they should be in quarantine if they are not immune to measles,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist and DPH’s incident commander for the measles outbreak. “Previous measles transmission studies have shown that one measles case can result in up to 20 new infections among unvaccinated contacts.”The South Carolina Department of Public Health said it has identified new public exposures at Jesse S. Bobo Elementary and began notifying potentially exposed students, faculty and staff on Dec. 30. Students from Jesse S. Bobo Elementary, Sugar Ridge Elementary and Boiling Springs Elementary who quarantine successfully without becoming ill are scheduled to be able to return to classes Jan. 10.DPH sent a statewide Health Alert on Jan. 7 advising health care providers and facilities of the importance of heightened awareness for measles and recommended measures for the use of masks and rapid isolation of suspect measles cases to protect people in health care settings from exposures.Fast facts: 99 new cases since TuesdayTotal number of cases as part of outbreak 310200 people in quarantine Nine people are isolation 69 of the cases are in children under 5206 of the cases are in people between 5 and 17 years old29 of the cases are in people 18 or olderIn six cases, the age has not been disclosedOf those infected 256 are unvaccinated, 2 partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, 2 vaccinated, and 50 unknown. A person with measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears, so measles may not be suspected. Therefore, it is very important for those with mild illness or those who are in quarantine to stay home to protect others from possible measles spread. Health officials encourage employers to support workers in following DPH recommendations to stay out of work while ill or in quarantine which also protects businesses, other workers and clients.Video below: Woman who got the measles vaccine speaks out after contracting illnessVideo below: Measles outbreak in the Upstate leads to increased vaccinations; Faith leaders stepping up
SPARTANBURG, S.C. —
South Carolina has reported nearly 100 new measles cases, including two infections in people who were fully vaccinated, and health officials say hundreds more people have likely been exposed.
The latest cases bring the total to 310 cases related to the outbreak centered around Spartanburg County.
Health officials said there are currently 200 people in quarantine and nine in isolation, but the number of those in quarantine doesn’t reflect the number of people actually exposed.
“An increasing number of public exposure sites are being identified with likely hundreds more people exposed who are not aware they should be in quarantine if they are not immune to measles,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist and DPH’s incident commander for the measles outbreak. “Previous measles transmission studies have shown that one measles case can result in up to 20 new infections among unvaccinated contacts.”
The South Carolina Department of Public Health said it has identified new public exposures at Jesse S. Bobo Elementary and began notifying potentially exposed students, faculty and staff on Dec. 30. Students from Jesse S. Bobo Elementary, Sugar Ridge Elementary and Boiling Springs Elementary who quarantine successfully without becoming ill are scheduled to be able to return to classes Jan. 10.
DPH sent a statewide Health Alert on Jan. 7 advising health care providers and facilities of the importance of heightened awareness for measles and recommended measures for the use of masks and rapid isolation of suspect measles cases to protect people in health care settings from exposures.
Fast facts:
99 new cases since TuesdayTotal number of cases as part of outbreak 310200 people in quarantine Nine people are isolation 69 of the cases are in children under 5206 of the cases are in people between 5 and 17 years old29 of the cases are in people 18 or olderIn six cases, the age has not been disclosedOf those infected 256 are unvaccinated, 2 partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, 2 vaccinated, and 50 unknown.
A person with measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears, so measles may not be suspected. Therefore, it is very important for those with mild illness or those who are in quarantine to stay home to protect others from possible measles spread. Health officials encourage employers to support workers in following DPH recommendations to stay out of work while ill or in quarantine which also protects businesses, other workers and clients.
Video below: Woman who got the measles vaccine speaks out after contracting illness
Video below: Measles outbreak in the Upstate leads to increased vaccinations; Faith leaders stepping up