There has been a continuous rise of measles cases in the Upstate since July of this year.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health has reported 19 cases of the disease this year, with 15 of those being a part of the most recent outbreak.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that is transmitted through droplets in the air, including those released through coughing, sneezing and talking. This form of transmission could mean that someone might not realize they contracted the illness from someone in their everyday activities.

Now, you may think that measles is just a children’s disease that cannot affect you, but that is a common fallacy. Notably, a gym in Greenville was identified as a source of exposure at the end of September, according to WYFF News 4. So, even visits to Fike Recreation Center could expose you to this highly contagious illness.

Approximately 40% of Clemson’s students live on campus, as reported by Clemson University Facilities. These tight, closed spaces could potentially leave students more vulnerable to exposure.

The University should implement additional precautions for these students, because if one person contracts measles, it could spread rapidly on Clemson’s campus. If a student gets exposed in Fike, it could then spread to their roommates, classmates and friends.

Redfern requires students to have the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Whether you have the vaccinations or not, you can still be affected by this disease. If you have received two doses of the measles vaccine, measles is preventable 97% of the time, per the Mayo Clinic.

If students or community members are concerned and unsure of their vaccination status, they should contact caregivers, parents or healthcare providers.

Everyone should be cautious, and if you are using a machine at the gym, make sure to clean it thoroughly.

Alexis Nigro is a senior political science major from Howell, New Jersey. Alexis can be reached at [email protected].