A measles outbreak has hit South Carolina, as cases of the potentially deadly virus hit record highs across the country. 

The South Carolina Department of Public Health reported on Thursday an outbreak in the northern part of the state, increasing the confirmed case count to eight.

Five of the individuals caught the virus within the past month. DPH defines an outbreak as three or more cases that are linked to one another. 

The department added that all those involved in the current outbreak were unvaccinated and didn’t have immunity. 

Dr. Linda Bell, the epidemiologist for the state and head of the Health Programs Branch, stated that it remains unclear how two people acquired measles.

She mentioned that the department expects to find more cases and advised individuals showing symptoms of the virus to avoid contact with others.

Symptoms of measles can include fever, cough, red eyes, and a runny nose, followed by a nasty rash that begins on the face before spreading to the rest of the body, typically lasting five or six days. 

Measles spreads through the air and remains airborne for up to two hours after the infected person leaves.

A measles outbreak has been reported in the upper region of South Carolina, with the Department of Health confirming eight cases in the area 

Measles cases exceeded 800 in Texas in the last two years, with New Mexico and Arizona also reporting high numbers of infections 

Measles is a highly contagious virus with symptoms that include fever, cough, red eyes, and a runny nose, followed by a rash that begins on the face before spreading to the rest of the body, typically lasting five or six days 

DPH strongly urged anyone with symptoms to avoid contact with others due to the extremely contagious nature of measles. 

Even those with mild early symptoms can spread the virus, and those infected can be contagious for four days before they even start to see a rash. 

Health officials reiterated the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of measles, adding that it is 97 percent effective at preventing infection. 

Children are encouraged to receive two doses of the vaccine: the first between 1 year and 15 months old, and the second between 4 and 6 years old, according to DPH. 

‘Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles infection and spread,’ Dr. Bell said.

‘We strongly encourage everyone to review their immunization records and make sure they are up to date on all recommended vaccinations, including MMR’. 

So far this year, there have been 1,544 cases nationwide, a record high for the past 33 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Experts have advocated for the vaccine to prevent measles outbreaks. Many states have less than 90 percent vaccination rates 

The last time measles cases exceeded 1,000 reported cases was in 1992, when 2,126 people contracted the virus. 

The year with the highest number of recorded cases in the last 40 years was 1990, when 27,808 people contracted measles. 

A year later, measles elimination efforts expanded throughout the US, and children aged 9-15 began receiving the vaccine, according to the World Health Organization. 

Since 1997, measles infections remained under 200, with some years even falling under 50 reported cases. 

However, cases have skyrocketed in recent years, and there have already been three confirmed deaths this year from the virus, according to the CDC. 

The Minnesota Department of Health announced on Wednesday that the state has 10 new confirmed cases, bringing the total of infected individuals up to 18. 

West Texas experienced a significant outbreak earlier this year, with 762 confirmed cases, including 99 hospitalizations, and two deaths in school-aged children. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement that advocated for vaccines and dispelled claims that the virus was treatable 

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came under fire during the outbreak for promoting vitamin A and drugs budesonide and clarithromycin as recovery methods for measles. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics dispelled the claim, releasing a fact sheet that read: ‘There is no scientific evidence that inhaled steroids like budesonide or oral antibiotics like clarithromycin are beneficial for treating measles. 

‘Promoting medications to treat measles, particularly when those medications are not recommended, suggests that measles is treatable, which it is not’.

Daily Mail has reached out to the HHS for comment on recent measles outbreaks.