The measles outbreak in South Carolina is intensifying, particularly in the upstate region encompassing Greenville and Spartanburg, according to state health officials. As of Wednesday, 111 cases have been confirmed, with 27 reported since Friday, highlighting a rapid increase in a short span of time. State epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell attributed the surge to holiday travel and gatherings, combined with lower-than-recommended vaccination rates in the area. Spartanburg County has a 90% K-12 MMR vaccination rate for 2024-25, and Greenville County sits at 90.5%, both below the 95% threshold considered necessary to prevent outbreaks.
Health authorities have deployed mobile clinics to provide MMR shots, but uptake has been limited. The outbreak is affecting multiple schools and a church in Spartanburg County, with 254 people currently under a three-week quarantine. Some unvaccinated students are facing a second 21-day quarantine this school year. Measles, highly contagious and capable of lingering in the air for hours, continues to pose a risk to unvaccinated populations. Nationwide, the CDC reports 1,912 measles cases in 2025, primarily among unvaccinated children and teens, with ongoing outbreaks in Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, runny nose, red eyes, white spots inside the mouth, and a spreading rash. About 11% to 12% of cases require hospitalization, and three deaths have been reported this year. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide approximately 97% protection against the virus.