COLUMBIA, S.C. — Health officials in South Carolina have announced that 134 individuals, including many school children, are currently under quarantine due to potential exposure to measles. This update was shared on Tuesday.

The state has witnessed a spike in measles cases, with 14 new infections bringing the total count to 79 cases in 2025.

According to a spokesperson from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), three of these recent cases were linked to a “school setting.”

In response to the outbreak, the DPH has informed students, faculty, and staff across several schools about possible exposure. Consequently, 75 people have been quarantined. The affected schools include Hendrix Elementary, Marby Middle School, Chapman High School, and Tyger River Elementary School.

“If students complete their quarantine without developing symptoms, they are expected to return to school between December 11 and December 15, depending on their respective institution,” stated a DPH representative.

Symptoms of measles typically begin 7-12 days after exposure but could occur up to 21 days. Symptoms include a cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes, along with a mild to moderate fever.  

Two or three days after symptoms begin, the fever spikes and a red blotchy rash appears. The rash usually starts on the face and head, then spreads down the body, officials said. Those with measles are contagious prior to the rash appears, from four days before and four days after it begins.

It is able for someone to spread measles before knowing they have the disease.

“We remind people that measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness resulting in hospitalizations and complications,” a DPH spokesperson said. “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.”

Anyone who could have been exposed and develops symptoms should immediately call a doctor to report the exposure and symptoms.

Of the 79 total cases, 14 of them were in children under 5-years-old, 49 were in kids between 5 and 17, eight were in people over 18 and five were minors but had undisclosed ages.

Of those, 69 cases were in unvaccinated people. Three were partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, one was vaccinated, two are unknown and another is still being investigated, a DPH official reported.