South Carolina: worst measles in decades

South Carolina’s measles outbreak has reached 997 cases, the state’s largest in decades, and health officials say it began in the Upstate in October. (dph.sc.gov) The South Carolina Department of Public Health said on April 7, 2026, that no new cases had been reported since March 17 and that the outbreak total remained 997. If no new cases are reported, the agency said, the outbreak would end on April 26. (dph.sc.gov) State officials first confirmed the outbreak on Oct. 2, 2025, and said it was centered around Spartanburg County. By Jan. 16, 2026, the total had climbed to 558 cases, and by Feb. 17 it had reached 962. (dph.sc.gov 1) (dph.sc.gov 2) (dph.sc.gov 3) Measles spreads easily because the virus can hang in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, and one case can infect 16 to 18 other people in an unprotected group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says communities generally need more than 95% vaccination coverage to keep outbreaks from taking off. (cdc.gov) (scrippsnews.com) Infants are exposed before they can follow the routine vaccine schedule. South Carolina says the first measles, mumps, and rubella dose is recommended at 12 months, with a second dose at ages 4 through 6. (dph.sc.gov) (cdc.gov) Vaccination coverage has been slipping nationally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that measles, mumps, and rubella coverage among U.S. kindergartners fell to 92.5% in the 2024-2025 school year, below the 95% level the agency uses as a benchmark for community protection. (cdc.gov 1) (cdc.gov 2) Federal modelers said last month that South Carolina’s outbreak was most likely to last at least six months and spread beyond the initially affected community. Their assessment pointed to population immunity and connections with surrounding communities as the main drivers of outbreak size and duration. (cdc.gov) South Carolina health officials responded with isolation, quarantine, public exposure notices and vaccination outreach as the case count rose. On Feb. 6, the state said 277 people were in quarantine and eight were in isolation. (dph.sc.gov) The state’s case count now appears to be flattening, but the outbreak has not officially ended. South Carolina health officials are still telling residents to check their vaccine status and watch for updated exposure notices through April. (dph.sc.gov)