Jan 13 (Reuters) – The South Carolina health department reported 434 measles cases related to the ongoing outbreak in the state on Tuesday, 124 additional cases since its last update on Friday.
The widening outbreak has been reported in the northwest part of the state, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
Of those infected, 378 were unvaccinated, three were partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccines, six were fully vaccinated and 47 had unknown vaccination status.
There are currently 409 people in quarantine due to an exposure and 17 people in isolation.
“Quarantine is staying home 21 days after a known exposure to monitor symptom development. Isolation is when an individual has the measles and is infectious,” a state health department spokesperson told Reuters in an email.
Most cases were reported in children in the five to 17 age group, followed by those below five years of age.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes symptoms such as fever, cough and a characteristic rash. It can also lead to severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis.
In response to an ongoing outbreak in the upstate, the state health department said it will deploy its vaccination program called Mobile Health Unit this week to provide free measles-mumps-rubella and flu shots.
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny and Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Alan Barona)