Feb 6 (Reuters) – South Carolina reported a surge to 920 measles cases on Friday, state health data showed, including 44 additional infections since Tuesday, as officials warned the widening outbreak could last weeks or months amid lagging vaccine uptake.
The outbreak, which began in October, has been centered in the northwest part of the state, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
“January was the best month for measles vaccination we’ve experienced during this outbreak,” said state epidemiologist Linda Bell.
Last month, there was a strong increase in measles vaccinations across the state and in Spartanburg. Over 16,800 doses of measles vaccine were administered statewide, an increase of more than 7,000 doses compared to January 2025, a 72% increase, the state health department said.
There are currently 277 people in quarantine and eight in isolation. The latest end of quarantine for these is March 2, the South Carolina health department said.
Of those infected, 840 were unvaccinated, 20 were partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccines, 24 were fully vaccinated and 36 had unknown vaccination status.
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
