In the quiet weeks before winter, a disease that medicine had long believed mostly behind us has found its way back into the Upstate of South Carolina. On December 2, state health officials reported fourteen new measles cases around Spartanburg County, lifting the outbreak to seventy-six and the statewide tally to seventy-nine this year. Most of those newly infected had not been vaccinated, and many of the cases still have no traceable origin, reminding us how a community's protection is only as strong as its least-covered corners. Now parents, teachers, and children are living through the fam
Upstate SC Measles Outbreak Jumps by 14 Cases, Reaching 76 as Four Schools Quarantine 134
76 people infected in the outbreak and 134 students, faculty and staff placed in quarantine at four schools.
Fourteen new cases, double the last update
In the quiet weeks before winter, a disease that medicine had long believed mostly behind us has found its way back into the Upstate of South Carolina. On December 2, state health officials reported fourteen new measles cases around Spartanburg County, lifting the outbreak to seventy-six and the statewide tally to seventy-nine this year. Most of those newly infected had not been vaccinated, and many of the cases still have no traceable origin, reminding us how a community's protection is only as strong as its least-covered corners. Now parents, teachers, and children are living through the familiar, uneasy waiting that follows any exposure, hoping the chain of contact ends before the holidays.
On December 2, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported fourteen new measles cases in and around Spartanburg County, twice the number added at the previous update on November 28. The outbreak, first reported two months ago, now stands at seventy-six cases, and the state has recorded seventy-nine this year. Health officials said most of those infected were unvaccinated.
The new cases came from several places. Eight were linked to an exposure at Way of Truth Church in Inman, which had already been reported. Three were tied to a school setting, and three remain under investigation. Many others have no known source, likely the result of community spread that has not yet been traced.
The school exposures brought the outbreak directly into classrooms. Because of close contact with a known case, four Spartanburg County schools began quarantining 134 students, faculty and staff. Hendrix Elementary has 40 people in quarantine, Tyger River Elementary has 17, Mabry Middle has 13, and Chapman High has six. Families began receiving notices on December 1.
District officials moved quickly. Spartanburg School District 1 learned of the exposure from the health department the day before and notified every family at Mabry and Chapman using a document the state provided. At Tyger River Elementary, in District 5, staff worked to identify close contacts after students returned from Thanksgiving break and to reach their families.
The quarantines end between December 11 and 15, depending on each person's exposure date. Whether the count climbs further will depend on whether new school or community exposures emerge, and on how many of the three open cases can be linked to a source.
On Dec. 2, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported 14 new measles cases in and around Spartanburg County, twice the number added at the previous update. That brings the outbreak, first reported two months ago, to 76 cases. Across the state, 79 cases have been recorded this year.
The previous update, on Nov. 28, had added seven cases. The agency said the vast majority of those infected were unvaccinated.
The new numbers break down unevenly. Eight of the 14 people were tied to an exposure at Way of Truth Church in Inman, one that had already been reported. Three were exposed in a school setting. Three others are still under investigation. The state has also noted that many cases without a known source likely come from exposures in the wider community that have not been pinned down.
The school exposures have produced a new round of quarantines. Because of close contact with a known measles case, four Spartanburg County schools began quarantining a combined 134 students, faculty and staff. Hendrix Elementary School has 40 people in quarantine, Tyger River Elementary has 17, Mabry Middle has 13, and Chapman High has six.
Parents and others affected began receiving notifications on Dec. 1. Depending on when each person may have been exposed, the quarantine periods will end between Dec. 11 and Dec. 15.
School officials described a quick turnaround after the state's alert. Jada Tessnier, a spokesperson for Spartanburg School District 1, said the district heard from the Department of Public Health the day before about the exposure. Out of an abundance of caution, it notified all families at Mabry and Chapman, using a document the department provided for that purpose.
At Tyger River Elementary, which falls under District 5, spokesperson Melissa Robinette said the school is following all public health protocols. The department notified the district the day before, after students returned from Thanksgiving break. School staff then moved to identify who had close contact and to notify those students' parents and families.
The quarantines are set to lift by mid-December. Whether the count climbs further depends on whether new school or community exposures surface before then, and on how many of the three cases still under investigation can be traced to a source.
Citações Notáveis
The district notified all families at Mabry and Chapman out of an abundance of caution after being alerted by DPH the day before.— Jada Tessnier, spokesperson, Spartanburg School District 1
After students returned from Thanksgiving break, the district was notified by DPH and immediately worked to identify close contacts and notify families.— Melissa Robinette, spokesperson, Spartanburg District 5
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Health & Medicine