Over 250 people quarantined amid South Carolina measles outbreak

More than 250 people exposed to measles in South Carolina are in quarantine, with 16 sick people in isolation. 

There are 111 cases of measles related to the outbreak in the upstate region that started this fall, the South Carolina Department of Public Health said. To stop the spread, 254 people are in quarantine, with 16 in isolation.

Quarantine separates people to see if they get sick. Isolation separates those sick with a contagious disease from healthy people, per the federal Department of Health and Human Services website.

There were 27 new cases developed in the outbreak between last Friday and Tuesday. Of those, 16 were related to an exposure at the Way of Truth Church in Inman, 80 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina health officials said.

Eight cases involved people living in households with individuals who already contracted measles during the outbreak, one was exposed at school and another was in a health care setting.

As a result of the new cases, 43 students at Inman Intermediate School are in quarantine and will be able to return to class on Monday if they do not become sick.

There are also students in quarantine from three other elementary schools, three other middle schools and two high schools in the area of the outbreak, South Carolina State Epidemiologist Linda Bell said in a briefing.

Most of the 111 cases involve youngsters.

Most of those infected have been unvaccinated, at 105 of the 111 cases.

Taking one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses are 97% effective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.