Measles cases in South Carolina rise by 11 to 973

By Siddhi Mahatole

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Measles cases in South Carolina surged to 973 on Friday, state health data showed, including 11 additional infections since Tuesday.

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.

State epidemiologist Linda Bell said on Wednesday the outbreak appears to be slowing, as daily case counts have dropped sharply from the surge seen after the holidays.

However, she cautioned that the state is "not out of the woods" yet.

Of those infected, 906 were unvaccinated, 20 were partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccines, 26 were fully vaccinated and 21 had unknown vaccination status.

There are currently 105 people in quarantine and seven in isolation. The latest end of quarantine for these is March 15, the state health department said.

The outbreak will not be considered over until 42 days - two full incubation periods - after the last confirmed case in South Carolina, Bell said.

As of February 19, 982 confirmed measles cases were reported in the U.S. in 2026, according to CDC's latest data.