South Carolina saw its first measles outbreak of the year, joining a national surge in outbreaks from the highly infectious disease, with more cases anticipated, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported Oct. 1.

There are now eight confirmed cases, all in the Upstate, with five linked together, the department said. An outbreak is defined as three or more related cases of the same infectious disease. All of the cases involve unvaccinated people who had no previous immunity to the disease, the department reported.

Of the five newest cases, all had become sick within the last month, the department said. The state’s last measles outbreak, with six cases, was in 2018, the department said.

“Measles is highly contagious, and there is risk for continued, rapid spread of the diseas

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