The Spartanburg County measles outbreak continues to grow with nine new cases and one additional school exposure confirmed, the state Department of Public Health announced Dec. 16.
Five of the new cases are tied to the Way of Truth Church in Inman while three were linked to known household exposures and one from a neighborhood exposure. Based on the new cases, DPH is also reporting a new school exposure at Berry Shoals Elementary in Duncan where 44 students are in quarantine.
The new cases bring the outbreak total so far to 135 with DPH reporting 168 people in quarantine and one in isolation as of the Dec. 16 update.
Students remain in quarantine at Campobello Gramling School (67) and Boiling Springs Elementary (16).
Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, DPH is cautioning anyone who suspects they may have been exposed to alert their health care provider prior to visiting so staff can take adequate precautions to protect staff and other patients from potential exposure.
The health agency reminds the public that vaccination remains the best protection against measles infection.
DPH also reminds the public that a person with measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after its onset, meaning people with mild symptoms can spread measles before they know they have the disease.
For more information, visit dph.sc.gov/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/viruses-parasites-bacterial-infections/measles-rubeola.
