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3w ago

South Carolina Ends Measles Outbreak After 997 Cases

The declaration underscores how gaps in vaccination allow large outbreaks despite measles previously being eliminated in the United States.

A worker with the South Carolina Department of Public Health talks to a patient outside a mobile clinic offering free measles vaccinations near the center of the outbreak in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The MMR vaccine is highly effective. One dose prevents disease about 93% of the time, and two doses raise that protection to 97%.
SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 6: A logo on a sign from the South Carolina Department of Public Health at a mobile clinic offering free measles vaccinations on February 6, 2026 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Dr. Jessica Early holds a vial of the combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at Prisma Health Pediatrics in Greer, S.C., on March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)

Overview

  • State health officials, who declared the outbreak over Monday, did so after 42 days passed with no new cases since the last infection on March 15.
  • The six-month outbreak reached 997 cases, including 932 people who had never been vaccinated, with more than 90% of infections in Spartanburg County.
  • Children aged 5 to 17 made up the largest share of patients, with 639 infections concentrated in schools and youth activities.
  • The response led to quarantines of 874 students across 33 schools and an estimated $2.1 million in state costs.
  • Vaccination rose sharply during the response with more than 81,000 measles doses given statewide, a 31% increase from 2025, as the CDC assisted the state and regional officials review the U.S. elimination status with a decision expected in November after national cases totaled 2,288 in 2025 and 1,792 so far this year.