South Carolina records first measles case of 2025
(WPDE) — The measles outbreak has spread to South Carolina.
The South Carolina Dept. of Health (DPH) on Wednesday announced an Upstate resident is the state’s first confirmed case of the infection since September 2024.
DPH says the individual is not vaccinated and didn’t have immunity from a previous infection. The person was exposed during an international trip and were not contagious while traveling. The individual is at home isolating to avoid further spread of the virus.
Health authorities are conducting a contact investigation and are notifying those who may have been exposed.
“Measles is highly contagious, and a serious disease caused by a virus that affects the respiratory tract. This virus spreads quickly, which is why we must act now to prevent its spread,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist and Health Programs Branch director.
“It is crucial that health care providers and the public be aware of the symptoms associated with this disease,” Dr. Bell said. “It is proven that the best way to prevent measles is by vaccination. I strongly encourage everyone to review their immunization records to make sure they are up to date on all vaccinations and to talk with their health care provider about the benefits and risks of getting vaccinated.”
Measles presents with fever, cough, and runny nose, usually followed by a rash that lasts five to six days. The virus can lead to hospitalization and even death.
Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, breathes or sneezes — and the virus can live in the air for up to two hours.
DPH says anyone infected should stay home and isolate for four days after their rash first appears.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles infection. DPH says the vaccine is 97% effective. At least 95% of a community needs to be vaccinated to have “herd immunity,” which would prevent outbreaks.
As of July 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there were a total of 1267 measles cases in the United States, including North Carolina and Georgia.
There have been 27 outbreaks in 2025 so far, which accounts for 88% of the confirmed cases this year. That’s compared to 16 outbreaks in 2024.
The CDC reports 3 deaths from measles so far this year.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, “thanks to a highly effective vaccination program in the United States, as well as better measles control in the Americas region,” the CDC says.
A measles outbreak in a Mennonite community in West Texas in late January, where vaccination rates are low, is linked to a large increase in cases across the country, according to Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.
