Measles Outbreak in South Carolina: Understanding the Situation

Strategic Insights -

The South Carolina Department of Public Health has confirmed a case of measles in an Upstate resident, marking the fourth confirmed case of measles in the state since July 2025. The individual is unvaccinated and did not have immunity from a previous measles infection. The agency has begun a contact investigation and is notifying people who may have been exposed to the virus.

Key Takeaways:

  • The measles virus can cause serious complications, including inflammation of the brain, permanent neurological problems, and pneumonia, especially in young children.
  • The initial symptoms of measles include fever, cough, red eyes, and runny nose, followed by a rash beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body.
  • People with measles can spread the virus through the air when they breathe, cough, or sneeze, and can remain infectious for up to two hours after they are gone from a confined area.
  • The measles vaccine is over 97% effective at preventing infection, and two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended for children, with a first dose at 12-15 months of age and a second dose at 4-6 years of age.
  • Certain groups, including pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals, should not receive the MMR vaccine or should delay receiving it.
  • DPH has begun a contact investigation and is notifying people who may have been exposed to the virus, and the agency recommends speaking with a healthcare provider to evaluate the risks and benefits of vaccination.

Statistics:

  • The fourth confirmed case of measles in South Carolina in 2025 has no known connection with the previous three cases.
  • The virus can remain infectious in the air in a confined area for up to two hours after the sick person is gone.
  • Measles can be spread through the air when a person with measles breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
  • People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash begins through four days after its onset.
  • The measles vaccine is over 97% effective at preventing infection.

Sources:

  • The South Carolina Department of Public Health