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Measles cases surge in South Carolina as US risks losing elimination status

January 20, 2026

South Carolina is experiencing a severe measles outbreak with 646 cases since October, including 88 new infections reported since last Friday, primarily concentrated in Spartanburg. More than 500 people, including students at 15 schools and two universities, are currently quarantined after exposure to the highly contagious virus. This outbreak represents one of the worst measles episodes in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, threatening the country's elimination status.

Who is affected

  • Residents of South Carolina, particularly the approximately 39,000 people living in Spartanburg
  • Over 500 people and students in 15 schools currently in quarantine
  • Students at Clemson University and Anderson University
  • Residents of Texas (over 700 cases in 2025, with three deaths), Utah, and Arizona (hundreds of cases)
  • Unvaccinated individuals across the United States
  • The United States as a whole (risk of losing measles elimination status)

What action is being taken

  • State health officials are quarantining over 500 people and students in 15 schools who have been exposed to the virus
  • Dozens of students at Clemson and Anderson universities are in quarantine

Why it matters

  • This outbreak threatens the United States' measles elimination status achieved in 2000 and represents the worst measles surge in decades with over 2,000 infections in the past 12 months. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases with up to 90% infection rate among unvaccinated exposed individuals, and it can cause serious complications including pneumonia and brain swelling. The outbreak highlights the dangerous consequences of declining vaccination rates (currently 90% in Spartanburg County versus the 95% needed for herd immunity) and demonstrates how anti-vaccine messaging can translate into real public health crises affecting entire communities.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC