May 4 (Reuters) – The South Carolina Department of Public Health on Monday confirmed a second measles case in Saluda County, saying it was linked to the initial case reported on April 17.

The cases are unrelated to a separate measles outbreak in South Carolina’s Upstate region that totaled 997 cases and was declared over on April 26, the state health department added.

Here are some details:

• The first case was associated with international travel, while the second case involved a known contact who had been quarantining since April 17.

• The health department said the individual linked to the second case did not have any public exposures, and the individual’s vaccination status is unknown.

• No one is currently isolating, while 39 people remain in quarantine through May 9.

• “This second case was identified from an exposure linked to the initial case, and the individual had already been quarantining before symptoms developed,” said Brannon Traxler, the agency’s deputy director and chief medical officer.

• As of April 30, 1,814 confirmed measles cases had been reported in the U.S. this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles, and vaccines are available through healthcare providers, pharmacies and local health departments, the South Carolina health department said.

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

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