South Carolina sees 88 additional measles cases in four days
As of a January 20 update, 646 people have tested positive for measles in South Carolina, according to the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH). 88 additional cases have been confirmed since the DPH’s January 16 update.
Most patients are under the age of 18 and were exposed to the virus at school. 538 people are currently in quarantine, with 33 in isolation. A full list of schools with outbreaks can be found on the DPH’s website. The outbreak is primarily in Spartanburg county, with 612 of the cases coming from there. Greenville and Anderson counties have few confirmed cases. No other counties currently have measles patients.
Additionally, shoppers at a couple grocery stores may have been exposed if they were shopping at certain times on certain dates, according to the DPH:
- Publix at 2153 E. Main Street, Duncan, S.C. on Friday, Jan. 16 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Shoppers should watch for symptoms through February 6.
- Food Lion at 11153 Asheville Highway, Inman, SC on Sunday, Jan. 11 from 12 to 8 p.m. AND Monday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shoppers should watch for symptoms through February 1st and 2nd, respectively.
The DPH emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated against measles in their statement. They said, “Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and stop this outbreak.” Nearly all cases so far have been in unvaccinated individuals or individuals that did not know their vaccination status (562 unvaccinated, 59 unknown).
