FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 8 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 84, Additional School Exposures

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dec. 5, 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting 8 new cases of measles in the state since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak to 84 and the total number reported to DPH this year to 87.

Seven of the cases are household members of known cases. The source of the eighth case is still being investigated.

There are currently 281 individuals in quarantine and two in isolation.

Based on the new cases, DPH has identified public exposures at four new schools and began notifying potentially exposed students, faculty and staff on Dec. 1. Those schools are Fairforest Elementary (44 students in quarantine), Rainbow Lake Middle (61 students in quarantine), Fairforest Middle (fewer than 5 students in quarantine), and Dorman High – Freshman Campus (15 students in quarantine). Students from those schools who quarantine successfully without becoming ill are scheduled to be able to return to classes between Dec. 11 and Dec. 15, depending on the school.

Students from the following schools remain under quarantine: Hendrix Elementary (40 students in quarantine), Mabry Middle School (13 students in quarantine), Chapman High School (5 students in quarantine), and Tyger River Elementary School (21 students in quarantine). Students from those schools who quarantine successfully without becoming ill are scheduled to be able to return to classes between Dec. 11 and Dec. 15, depending on the school.  

Notifying a health care provider of a potential exposure before seeking care is very important. This allows prior arrangements to be made in clinical settings to prevent additional exposures of staff and other visitors as some clinical sites have also been settings of public exposures. Symptoms of measles typically begin 7-12 days (but up to 21 days) after exposure, and start with a cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes, along with a mild to moderate fever.  

Two or three days later, the fever spikes, often as high as 104°F. At the same time, a red blotchy rash appears, usually first on the face and head, then rapidly spreads down the remainder of the body. A person with measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after its onset, so someone may be able to spread measles before they know they have the disease. It is important to stay home if you are ill. We encourage employers to make sure that workers stay out of worksites and facilities while ill to protect your businesses, your workers and your clients.

We remind people that measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness resulting in hospitalizations and complications. If anyone who may have been exposed develops an illness with fever (101°F or more), cough, runny nose or red eyes, with or without rash, immediately call your doctor and let them know about the exposure and symptoms so that they can tell you what to do next.  You will be asked to stay at home until the doctor clears you. 

Annually, public and private schools are required to provide DPH the number of students enrolled in South Carolina schools that are adequately protected against certain vaccine-preventable diseases as well as the number of students admitted to school with exemptions within 45 calendar days after the beginning of each school year. DPH has now released the 45 Day Report for the 2025-26 school year.  

To stay up-to-date on the latest measles outbreak information, visit our dedicated webpage here.

Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and stop this outbreak.  Vaccines are also available at many primary care provider offices and pharmacies, as well as DPH Health Departments.  

Any community partners or organizations interested in scheduling a vaccination event from DPH’s Mobile Health Unit can request a visit to their location by completing this form on our website. DPH will prioritize requests for MMR vaccination events, if received, and will also take steps to increase appointment availability for MMR vaccination in health department locations, should demand dictate. 

Outbreak Data Points 

Age breakdown of 84 cases: 
Under 5: 18 
5-17: 52 
18+: 8 
Minors under 18 (age undisclosed): 6

Vaccination status: 
77 unvaccinated, 3 partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, 1 vaccinated, 2 unknown, 1 still being investigated.  

###