About  88 children with new measles cases have been confirmed in the U.S. state of South Carolina over the past five days, bringing the total to 646 amid the ongoing outbreak.

The state’s Department of Public Health (DPH) made the disclosure on Wednesday.

There are currently 538 people in quarantine and 33 in isolation, with the latest quarantine period set to end on February 23, according to the DPH.

The department added that at least 15 schools, including elementary, middle and high schools, as well as two universities, have students in quarantine.

Health officials identified measles exposures at two supermarkets in the upstate region and advised people who may have been exposed, particularly those without immunity, to monitor for symptoms.

This will typically appear within seven to 12 days after exposure.

Nationwide, a total of 171 confirmed measles cases have been reported in 2026 as of January 13, according to the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The U.S. reported 2,242 confirmed measles cases in 2025, the highest annual total since 1992, CDC data showed. 

(dpa/NAN)