Hundreds quarantined for measles in SC. Could you have it already and not know? What experts say

What is particularly concerning about the measles outbreak in South Carolina is that you can have the virus — and be contagious — for days before the telltale sign occurs, a blotchy red rash.

You will probably have a fever, a cough, runny nose in the days before the rash is seen, but those are symptoms of many illnesses much less serious and contagious than measles.

The rash occurs in two to four days and will stick around for five to six more. Then, the virus can spread for four days after the rash goes away.

And here’s another complication. Measles is very contagious. An infected person coughs or sneezes and as many as nine of 10 people can get it. Not only that but whatever the infected person sneezed on will have the live virus for 2 hours after they leave.

So far this year, 114 people have had measles, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported Tuesday. Almost all have been located in Spartanburg County.

There have been clusters in four schools — Fairforest Elementary, Rainbow Lake Middle, Fairforest Middle and Dorman High — Freshman Campus — and the Way of Truth Church in Inman.

Also, an employee of the Budd Group, a third-party contractor that provides janitorial services at the Greenville Spartanburg Airport, worked there while contagious on Nov. 10 and 11. The source of exposure is unknown for one person.

There were 254 people in quarantine and 16 in isolation Tuesday, Public Health reported.

Most of the cases, 75, were people between the ages of 5-17. Twenty were younger than 5 years old and 10 were older than 8 years old. Six were under 18 years old, but their ages were not disclosed.

Ron Aiken, spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, said Thursday no one can say whether the outbreak will spread beyond the Upstate.

“But the possibility always exists based on people’s travel patterns, especially around the holidays,” he said.

The most recent spike — 27 reported Tuesday — came within two weeks after Thanksgiving.

If you’ve had measles before or had the MMR vaccine your chances are good you won’t get it.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health says about 93% of people vaccinated with one dose have permanent protection and about 97% get protection after two doses of measles vaccine.

One of the people who had measles during the current outbreak had been immunized. Three were partially vaccinated and 105 unvaccinated. The vaccination status of two are unknown.

CVS said in a press release they have the vaccine available. Check with pharmacies in your area for availability and with insurance to see if vaccines are covered.

The people most vulnerable to serious illness are children younger than 5, pregnant women, individuals with a weakened immune system, and adults older than 20.

Severe complications are pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and even death.