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South Carolina Measles Outbreak Swells to 789 Cases, Federal Aid Deployed

Updated (2 articles)

Rapid escalation pushes case count to 789 By Jan. 27, 2026 South Carolina reported 789 confirmed measles infections, surpassing the 646 cases logged on Jan. 20 [1][2]. The surge began in October 2025 and has spread from Spartanburg County to nearby universities in Clemson and Anderson. The outbreak now represents the largest U.S. measles surge since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.

Hospitalizations and quarantines strain local health resources Eighteen patients, both children and adults, have been hospitalized for complications, while 557 individuals remain in quarantine after possible exposure [1]. Quarantine orders affect students in at least 20 schools, adding to earlier reports of 15 schools with exposed students [1][2]. The high number of isolated contacts underscores the virus’s contagiousness, with up to 90 % of unvaccinated persons likely to contract it after exposure [2].

Vaccination gaps fuel continued transmission More than 700 of the confirmed cases were unvaccinated or had received fewer than two MMR doses [1]. Spartanburg County’s school‑age vaccination rate sits near 90 %, below the 95 % herd‑immunity threshold needed to halt spread [1][2]. Public health officials emphasize that the two‑dose MMR vaccine is 97 % effective, yet gaps in coverage have allowed the outbreak to expand across multiple institutions.

Federal response and national elimination risk intensify The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services allocated $1.4 million to support South Carolina’s response, with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly discussing alternative treatments alongside vaccination [1]. The CDC has recorded 416 measles cases in 14 states this year, and officials warn the Pan American Health Organization may revoke U.S. elimination status at its April meeting if transmission persists [1][2].

Sources

Timeline

2000 – The United States declares measles eliminated, establishing a benchmark for disease control that later guides elimination‑status assessments. [2]

Aug 2025 – Texas experiences a 762‑case measles outbreak that ends, resulting in two child deaths and becoming the largest U.S. surge since the 2000 elimination. [2]

Oct 2025 – Measles cases begin rising in Spartanburg, South Carolina, eventually reaching 646 by late January 2026 and prompting quarantines of over 500 students and staff. [1]

Jan 20, 2026 – South Carolina logs 88 new measles cases, bringing the state total to 646; more than 500 people in 15 schools are placed in quarantine as the outbreak spreads to Clemson and Anderson universities. [1]

Jan 20, 2026 – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplays measles severity and promotes vitamin A, steroids and antibiotics alongside vaccination, shaping public messaging. [1]

Jan 20, 2026 – Spartanburg County’s vaccination coverage for school‑aged children sits at about 90 %, below the 95 % herd‑immunity threshold needed to halt transmission. [1]

Jan 27, 2026 – South Carolina’s measles outbreak tops 789 confirmed cases, becoming the largest U.S. surge since the 2000 elimination and surpassing the 2025 Texas outbreak. [2]

Jan 27, 2026 – At least 18 hospitalizations and 557 quarantines are reported, with exposures identified at three new schools and ongoing quarantines in 20 others. [2]

Jan 27, 2026 – Over 700 of the 789 patients are unvaccinated, highlighting vaccination gaps despite a 90 % school‑age coverage in Spartanburg County. [2]

Jan 27, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pledges $1.4 million to support South Carolina’s measles response, even as its secretary promotes unconventional treatments. [2]

Jan 27, 2026 – The CDC records 416 measles cases across 14 states in 2026, underscoring a national resurgence that threatens elimination status. [2]

2026 (ongoing) – Investigations link South Carolina cases to outbreaks in North Carolina, Washington and California, while a separate large outbreak expands along the Arizona‑Utah border, straining containment resources. [2]

Apr 2026 – The Pan American Health Organization convenes a meeting to consider revoking the United States’ measles‑elimination status if transmission continues. [2]

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