SC health department reports 3rd case of measles in state this year

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – The South Carolina Department of Public Health has confirmed the third case of measles in the state since July.

Officials said the patient is unvaccinated and did not have immunity from a previous measles infection.

“They do not have a specific, known exposure to someone with measles, but they did have a recent international trip to a country with an ongoing measles outbreak and were not contagious while traveling,” the agency said in a release.

The person is isolating at their home to prevent the further spread of the virus.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that affects the respiratory tract, and can result in serious complications affecting the brain, blood cells, complications in pregnancy, and long-term neurologic effects,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said. “This virus spreads quickly, which is why we must act now to prevent its spread.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said measles was considered to have been eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 because of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

But recently, the number of vaccinated people, especially children, has declined with vaccinations in kindergarteners falling below the 95% target.

Health experts consider the MMR vaccine to be 97% effective in preventing infection. However, Dr. Valerie Scott, a Primary Care Physician at Roper St. Francis, says there is a certain population that needs to get re-immunized.  

“A particular population that we should be concerned about are people who received vaccines in 1957 to 1968. That vaccine was not effective. And so those people should be re-immunized with two vaccines,” Scott said.

The measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after the sick person has left from the area. People with measles should stay home from work or school for four days after their rash first appears.

Previous 2 measles cases reported in July

The Department of Public Health reported two earlier cases of measles two months ago.

The first case was also reported in the Upstate. That person was also unvaccinated and did not have immunity from a previous infection. They were exposed to measles during an international trip and were not contagious while traveling, the agency said on July 9.

Health officials later confirmed a second case they described as a “close contact” of the first case.

Both of those patients isolated themselves to prevent the further spread of the virus.

This month’s case is not associated with the two July cases, officials said.

The agency did not specify any specific information about the three patients, including their age, gender or county of residence, citing federal and state privacy restrictions.

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