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The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed an outbreak of measles in the Upstate.
As of Oct. 1, 2025, a total of eight measles cases have been reported to DPH in the Upstate.
Five out of the eight cases became sick within the past month and are part of a newly identified out eak.
A measles out eak is defined as three or more cases that are epidemiologically linked.
Officials said the people involved in the outbreak are unvaccinated and didn’t have immunity from a previous measles infection.
Currently, cases are following DPH isolation guidance to prevent further spread of the virus, officials said.
The agency is continuing a contact investigation and is notifying people who may have been exposed, the officials said.
“Measles is highly contagious, and there is risk for continued, rapid spread of the disease in the Upstate among communities with low immunization rates,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist and Health Programs Branch director.
Bell added, “Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles infection and spread. We strongly encourage everyone to review their immunization records and make sure they are up to date on all recommended vaccinations, including MMR.”
The initial symptoms of measles include fever, cough, red eyes and runny nose. These symptoms are followed by a rash beginning on the face then spreading to the rest of the body.
The rash usually lasts five or six days.
Said Bell: “We anticipate more cases will be identified and implore community members to act responsibly.”
Bell added, “At this time, it is very important to get better protection against measles spread in our communities by increasing measles vaccination coverage.”
The virus can be spread through the air when a person with measles breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
Measles virus can remain infectious in the air in a confined area for up to two hours after the sick person is gone from the area.
Officials urge people with measles to stay home from work and school and avoid contact with others for four days after their rash first appears.
It is also important for people without immunity to the virus who have had contact with a measles case to quarantine as instructed, because people with mild early symptoms can spread the virus, the officials said.
Those infected with measles are contagious from four days before the rash begins through four days after its onset.
Officials said the measles vaccine is over 97 percent effective at preventing infection.
Children should receive two doses of MMR vaccine: the first at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second at 4 to 6 years of age, the officials said.
They added children 6 to 12 months should get an early dose of MMR vaccine if they are traveling internationally.
Officials said most people born before 1957 were infected with measles during childhood and, therefore, are presumed to have protection via natural immunity, even if they have not been vaccinated.
Certain groups of people, including pregnant women and immunocompromised people, shouldn’t receive the MMR vaccine or should delay receiving it, officials said.
As of Sept. 30, 2025, there have been a total of 1,544 confirmed measles cases reported across 41 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In July, South Carolina had two confirmed cases of measles. The first reported case was associated with exposure while traveling. The second case was a known close contact of the first case.
In September, South Carolina had one confirmed case of measles associated with exposure while traveling and it was unrelated to the July cases.
The current outbreak in the Upstate involves two cases with no history of travel or identified source of exposure.
Subsequent spread to close contacts of these cases occurred marking five new cases, making a total of eight cases of measles in South Carolina in 2025 to date.
The outbreak has no known connection with the previous three cases.
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