Measles cases surge in South Carolina as US risks losing elimination status
At least 88 new cases of measles have been reported in South Carolina as the outbreak continues to grow, with 646 infections recorded in the state since October, according to officials.
State health officials say more than 500 people and students at 15 schools are in quarantine after being exposed to the virus.
The outbreak — the worst since Texas reported more than 700 measles cases in 2025 — puts the U.S. at risk of losing its measles elimination status.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world, spreading through the air through coughs and sneezes, and up to 90% of unvaccinated people in close proximity become infected if exposed to it.
South Carolina has reported 88 new cases of measles since last Friday, with the outbreak centered in the northwest city of Spartanburg, home to about 39,000 people.
The outbreak has also spread to two universities in the state, Clemson and Anderson, where dozens of students are now in quarantine.
There is no specific treatment for measles and the virus can cause many complications, including pneumonia and swelling of the brain.
The United States declared measles “eliminated” from the country in 2000, but in recent years, with a rise in anti-vaccine sentiments, the country has seen several outbreaks of the virus.
Two vaccine shots – proven safe – are 97% effective in preventing the virus and reducing serious infections. To achieve herd immunity – when enough of a group is immune to a disease, limiting its spread and protecting the unvaccinated – around 95% of the population must be vaccinated.
The measles vaccination rate for school-aged children is about 90% in Spartanburg County, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The past 12 months have seen the worst measles outbreaks in the United States in decades, with more than 2,000 infections. Three people have died in Texas, and in recent months Utah and Arizona have also reported hundreds of measles cases.
The increase in measles cases coincides with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s message downplaying both the severity of the disease and the importance of vaccination.
Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, has at times supported the MMR vaccine, while raising unsubstantiated claims about its safety and promoting unproven alternative treatments.
