The South Carolina Department of Public Health says there have been three new confirmed cases of measles in Spartanburg County since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in the state this year to 19 and the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 15.Health officials say all three cases were among close contacts to known cases who have been quarantining at home, and none were present in any school setting while contagious. Officials say since they were quarantining before they became infectious, no additional exposures have occurred with these new cases.Prisma Health says in order to proactively address the current measles outbreak in South Carolina, the hospital has implemented enhanced masking protocols across all Emergency Departments to help protect patients, visitors and staff.Masking upon entry: All individuals entering the Emergency Department are required to wear a mask until they have been evaluated at triage.Safety-first approach: These measures are designed to reduce the risk of transmission and ensure a safe environment for everyone during this outbreak.Symptom-based masking: Patients presenting with fever, rash, or respiratory symptoms will be asked to continue masking while inside any Prisma Health facility.Parental precautions: Unvaccinated parents accompanying children with fever and rash may also be asked to wear a mask.Doctor Anna Cathryn Burch is a Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician and says if you have had two doses of the MMR vaccine then you have lifelong immunity. For those who are just getting a vaccine, Burch says it usually takes about two weeks to make antibodies against the measles virus. She also says it’s the easiest virus to spread on the planet”The droplets within the virus that somebody might cough up when they’re sick with the virus can stay in the air for up to two hours, even after the person who is infected with the measles has left the room,” Burch said. For previous coverage, click here.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. —
The South Carolina Department of Public Health says there have been three new confirmed cases of measles in Spartanburg County since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in the state this year to 19 and the total number of cases in the current outbreak to 15.
Health officials say all three cases were among close contacts to known cases who have been quarantining at home, and none were present in any school setting while contagious. Officials say since they were quarantining before they became infectious, no additional exposures have occurred with these new cases.
Prisma Health says in order to proactively address the current measles outbreak in South Carolina, the hospital has implemented enhanced masking protocols across all Emergency Departments to help protect patients, visitors and staff.
Masking upon entry: All individuals entering the Emergency Department are required to wear a mask until they have been evaluated at triage.
Safety-first approach: These measures are designed to reduce the risk of transmission and ensure a safe environment for everyone during this outbreak.
Symptom-based masking: Patients presenting with fever, rash, or respiratory symptoms will be asked to continue masking while inside any Prisma Health facility.
Parental precautions: Unvaccinated parents accompanying children with fever and rash may also be asked to wear a mask.
Doctor Anna Cathryn Burch is a Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician and says if you have had two doses of the MMR vaccine then you have lifelong immunity. For those who are just getting a vaccine, Burch says it usually takes about two weeks to make antibodies against the measles virus. She also says it’s the easiest virus to spread on the planet
“The droplets within the virus that somebody might cough up when they’re sick with the virus can stay in the air for up to two hours, even after the person who is infected with the measles has left the room,” Burch said.
For previous coverage, click here.