Sat Oct 04 17:10:00 UTC 2025: **News Article: Measles Outbreak Declared in Upstate South Carolina Amid Government Shutdown**
**COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -** A measles outbreak has been declared in the Upstate region of South Carolina, with health officials confirming eight cases as of Wednesday. Five of these cases have emerged in the past month, triggering urgent public health warnings.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), all individuals involved in the outbreak are unvaccinated and are currently in isolation to prevent further spread. State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell emphasized the high contagiousness of measles and the risk of rapid spread in communities with low immunization rates. She stated that the unknown source of infection for two cases suggests unrecognized community spread.
The outbreak coincides with the ongoing federal government shutdown, impacting operations at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.
Measles symptoms begin with fever, cough, red eyes, and runny nose, followed by a characteristic rash that starts on the face and spreads throughout the body. The rash typically lasts five to six days.
Dr. Bell urged residents to act responsibly, emphasizing the importance of staying home when ill, notifying healthcare providers by phone of potential measles symptoms, and cooperating with DPH investigations. She stressed that increasing vaccination rates is crucial for protecting communities against the disease.
The DPH has launched a webpage sharing positive rabies cases in animals with the public.
The measles virus is airborne and can remain infectious for up to two hours in a confined area after an infected person leaves.
Georgia is also grappling with measles cases, with a recent cluster linked to Georgia State University and other locations in Fulton County. More than 200 close contacts of confirmed cases have been identified in Georgia.
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