South Carolina’s measles outbreak is the largest since the virus was declared eliminated in the United States over two decades ago.
The state health department reported 789 cases on Tuesday, surpassing the Texas outbreak last year that reached 762 cases. There are 89 new cases confirmed since Friday, meaning the outbreak in the Palmetto State is not yet under control.
At least 18 people across South Carolina have been hospitalized for complications stemming from measles, but no deaths have been reported, officials said. The health department reported exposures to the virus at three additional schools in Spartanburg County this week, including Dorman High, Inman Intermediate, and New Prospect Elementary, according to the Post and Courier. The development comes after there were existing quarantines among students at 20 other schools.
Of the 729 infected who have a known vaccination status, 695 are unvaccinated.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But it could lose that status this year when the Pan American Health Organization meets with the U.S. and Mexico in April to review their measles elimination status.
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Symptoms of measles typically include fever, cough, and runny nose, followed by a rash that can last around five to six days. Severe though rare complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.
Before 2025, there were an average of about 180 measles cases reported each year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number skyrocketed last year, with more than 2,200 confirmed measles cases being reported.
