In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in South Carolina, health authorities report the state’s 11th confirmed measles case and the eighth case since Sept. 25 related to the ongoing measles outbreak in the Upstate.
The case is a child in Greenville County. At this point in the investigation it is not yet clear if this new case is linked to the seven cases that are part of the current outbreak in Spartanburg County.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) says this case tells us is that there is active, unrecognized community transmission of measles occurring in the Upstate, which makes it vital to ensure that the public have received their measles vaccinations.
Officials remind the public it is important for people without immunity to the virus who have had contact with a measles case to quarantine as instructed, because they may be unaware that a person who is not showing symptoms yet can spread the virus. Those infected with measles are contagious from four days before the rash begins through four days after its onset. People may be infected and contagious to others before they realize they are sick with measles.
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The measles vaccine is over 97% effective at preventing infection. Children should receive two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine: the first at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second at 4 to 6 years of age. Children 6 to 12 months should get an early dose of MMR vaccine if they are traveling internationally or to an outbreak area.
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