FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 9 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 144, Additional School Exposures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Dec. 19, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting 9 new cases of measles in the state since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak to 144 and the total number reported to DPH this year to 147.
Four of the new cases are household members of known cases, one resulted from the previously reported exposure at the Way of Truth Church in Inman, one resulted from a previously reported school exposure, and the source of exposure is unknown for three of the cases.
There are currently 224 people in quarantine and 4 in isolation.
Based on the new cases, DPH has identified public exposures at New Prospect Elementary and began notifying potentially exposed students, faculty and staff on Dec. 17. There are currently 56 students in quarantine at New Prospect Elementary, and students who quarantine successfully without becoming ill are scheduled to be able to return to classes Jan. 2.
Students remain in quarantine at the following schools: Berry Shoals Elementary (35 students in quarantine), Campobello Gramling School (66 students in quarantine) and Boiling Springs Elementary (17 students in quarantine).
DPH encourages those potentially exposed to notify a health care provider of the exposure before seeking care to allow arrangements to be made in clinical settings to protect others as clinical sites have also been settings of public exposures.
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. To help stop the spread of measles, it is very important for those who have even mild illness or are in quarantine to stay home to protect others. We encourage employers to support workers in following DPH recommendations to stay out of work while ill or in quarantine which also protects businesses, other workers and clients.
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 144 cases:
Under 5: 31
5-17: 95
18+: 12
Minors under 18 (age undisclosed): 6
Vaccination status:
137 unvaccinated, 3 partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, 1 vaccinated, 3 unknown.
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FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 9 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 144, Additional School Exposures
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