South Carolina measles outbreak becomes largest since US eliminated disease

🌴South Carolina's measles outbreak reached 789 cases on Jan. 27, 2026. This surpasses the 762-case 🤠Texas outbreak that ended in Aug. 2025 and killed two children. It's the largest U.S. measles outbreak since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.

The outbreak is centered in Spartanburg County in northwestern 🌴South Carolina. It began in Oct. 2025 among families who immigrated from Ukraine. The virus spread through private Christian academies with largely unvaccinated student bodies.

Of the 789 cases, 695 are in unvaccinated people. Another 14 had only one dose of the two-dose MMR vaccine. Only 20 were fully vaccinated. More than half of cases (493) are children ages 5 to 17. At least 18 people have been hospitalized.

In Spartanburg County, only 90% of students had required immunizations in the 2024-25 school year. Public health experts say a 95% vaccination rate is needed for herd immunity against measles. Some schools in the county have much lower rates.

The outbreak has spread beyond 🌴South Carolina. Cases linked to the state have appeared in 🌴California, 🌲North Carolina, and 🌲Washington. A family from South Carolina visited Washington state in late Dec. while infectious, causing at least three new cases there.

The U.S. may lose its measles elimination status when the Pan American Health Organization meets in Apr.. Elimination status means there hasn't been continuous transmission for more than a year. The 🤠Texas outbreak that started in Jan. 2025 may have never fully stopped.

CDC Principal Deputy Director DRDr. Ralph Abraham said losing elimination status is "the cost of doing business, with our borders being somewhat porous." He added, "We have these communities that choose to be unvaccinated. That's their personal freedom."

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has focused on unconventional treatments including vitamin A alongside vaccination messaging. Abraham said the CDC is "willing to listen to alternatives for treatment and prevention." The MMR vaccine remains the most effective prevention.