Dec 12 (Reuters) - The South Carolina health department on Friday reported 126 cases of measles ⁠in the state, up ⁠by 15 cases since Tuesday.

The infections are ‍centered on Spartanburg County in the current outbreak, the South Carolina Department of Public Health said.

Measles is one of the world's most contagious illnesses and is often spread during times of high travel like ;spring break or ‍in situations where unvaccinated persons are ‍in close quarters.

It can cause symptoms such as fever, cough and a characteristic rash. It ⁠can also lead to severe complications ‍like ​pneumonia and encephalitis.

Thirteen of the new cases are from known household exposures, one was ;from a neighborhood ⁠contact and ‍another was from an unknown source still ‍being investigated.

(Reporting by Siddhi ;Mahatole ‍and Sriparna ​Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)