Measles Information is Evolving
Measles cases are on the rise in South Carolina, with cases concentrated in the Upstate
region. There are no known cases in the Lowcountry currently, but health officials
remain on high alert and are tracking cases. Use the SC Measles Tracking Dashboard to learn where measles has been confirmed.
Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases across the globe and can result in severe illness requiring hospitalization and long-term adverse effects such as blindness. Vaccination is a key public health measure to contain the disease. To learn more about measles, visit the SC Department of Public Health (DPH) website, the American Medical Association (AMA), the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
USCB requires 2 doses of MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine for enrollment unless a student presents with a medical or religious exemption. There is currently no recommendation to routinely offer an MMR booster vaccine when someone is unsure of their immunity to Measles. It is best to talk with your health care provider to discuss your risk level and consider if a lab test or MMR booster vaccine are right for you.
The MMR vaccine is available through your personal healthcare provider, S.C. Department of Public Health (clinics are located in Beaufort and Bluffton), and through USCB’s clinical partner, Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services (BJHCHS) at their clinics or mobile unit which visits USCB twice a month (see schedule).
The university continues to monitor the situation and will update the campus community as new information becomes available.