Lancaster County measles case is Rock Hill region’s first one linked to SC outbreak
A case of measles has been reported in Lancaster County, according to a new report by the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
Among 13 new measles cases reported statewide on Tuesday, the one in Lancaster becomes the first in the Rock Hill region since an outbreak began last fall in the Spartanburg area. The state Health Department is investigating the source of the Lancaster County case.
The Health Department doesn’t give details on individual cases that could potentially identify patients. There are now 933 cases statewide since October.
No public exposures have been identified so far in relation to the Lancaster County case, according to the Health Department.
The Lancaster County School District began updating parents last fall as the outbreak began to spread. The district will follow state protocols, according to a Jan. 30 letter to parents. It said, in part:
“Unvaccinated children (including those with Religious, Medical, and 30 Day Exemptions) who are exposed to a measles case may need to be excluded from school, sports and afterschool activities for up to 21 days after their last exposure to the positive case, unless they are vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure. LCSD will follow the SC Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines and recommendations for positive cases.”
Several potential measles exposure locations have been reported in North Carolina, in neighboring Mecklenburg and Union counties. Both counties are considered “medium coverage” for measles vaccination rates in schools at a little more than 90% of kindergarten students, according to a state dashboard.
South Carolina measles outbreak
South Carolina has 235 people in quarantine and six in isolation due to measles, some of them through March 5.
The state encourages vaccination against measles, a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, cough, runny nose and skin irritation. Complications associated with it can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and even death.
For more information, including what to do if you suspect measles exposure, visit dph.sc.gov.