South Carolina’s measles outbreak is over after sickening nearly 1,000 people
Measles outbreak in South Carolina The worst of the last 35 years in the United States is over, state health officials announced Monday.
On Sunday, the state passed the 42-day threshold with no new cases related to the outbreak. All in all, 997 people have contracted the vaccine-preventable disease since October, and at least 21 of them have been hospitalized, according to voluntary reports sent to the state. State health officials estimate the cost of responding to the outbreak at $2.1 million.
Interim director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, Dr. “Thanks to timely investigations, identification of those exposed, and people’s desire to stay home, the outbreak was predominantly contained in one area of one county and never spread statewide,” Edward Simmer said.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to medicine. Most recover after high fever, cough, runny nose and rash. But some, including very young children and people with weakened immune systems, can get pneumonia, swollen brains, or even die. Measles can also cause health problems later in life in people who recover. The vaccine is safe and 97% effective after two doses.
The pandemic has encouraged some to get vaccinated
The measles outbreak concentrated in northwestern Spartanburg County is the fastest-growing outbreak in the United States in decades, state health officials said. Public health officials confirmed more than 650 cases in January alone, and the outbreak quickly eclipsed the 2025 outbreak as the least sickening in West Texas. Killed 762 people and two school-age children.
But an earlier-than-expected decline in cases was welcome news for doctors and healthcare workers. The state health department’s chief medical officer, Dr. Brannon Traxler said last week a few things might help. He said it’s possible the epidemic will diminish to some extent as more people get sick, but as more people get vaccinated.
Although uptake was initially slow, public health workers, doctors’ offices and pharmacies administered nearly 82,000 measles vaccines from October to March. This represented an increase of more than 30% compared to the same period the previous year. Spartanburg County has seen a 94% increase in vaccinations.
The public health department also worked to contain the spread, sending nearly 2,300 quarantine letters, calling for more than 1,670 case investigations, and working across seven school districts to quarantine 874 students.
US heading towards more cases than last year
Measles continues to spread across the country. So far this year, 1,792 cases have been recorded in the US; almost 80% of these cases 2025’s record-breaking total – and 22 new outbreaks. Florida has confirmed 134 cases this year and Texas has 180, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of greatest concern right now is an outbreak that started at the Arizona-Utah border and has since spread throughout much of Utah. Since August, 607 people have gotten sick in Utah. Arizona’s Mohave County also confirmed 282 cases. Genetic analysis suggests the outbreak may have started six weeks ago and may be much larger than reported. research It was presented at a CDC conference last week.
Utah pediatrician and president-elect of the state’s American Academy of Pediatrics chapter, Dr. Ellie Brownstein said cases are slowing down a bit, but it’s too early to say the end is near. State data shows southwestern Utah still has the most cases (258), but at least one case has been recorded in each of the state’s 13 local health districts.
“He walked across the state and everywhere,” Brownstein said.
South Carolina authorities still on alert
The end of the epidemic in South Carolina has given healthcare workers just a little relief. Last week, a case linked to international travel in Saluda County west of Columbia led to the quarantine of 41 people.
“We are certainly not letting our guard down, and I don’t think South Carolinians who are still vulnerable to the virus, who are not immune, should let their guard down,” Traxler said.
Virus revived in the Americas since a major epidemic started in canada In the fall of 2024. Childhood measles vaccination rates in the United States have fallen for years as more and more parents opt out of school-required vaccines. In November, international health officials will determine whether the United States has lost its power. measles elimination statusIt has been continuing since 2000.
President of the South Carolina chapter of the AAP, Dr. Martha Edwards said the end of the pandemic brought a mixture of gratitude and anger.
“I am angry that so many children and their parents have to worry about contracting or contracting a disease that should be almost 100% preventable,” he said.
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