A major measles epidemic South Carolina is finally showing signs of slowing down as the state’s total number of cases approaches 1,000.
For several weeks, the state has seen a downward trend in new infections, with about 10 cases reported per week. At its peak in mid-January, the state was reporting about 200 new cases per week.
South Carolina’s measles outbreak is the largest in the United States in more than 30 years, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has confirmed 1,281 cases of measles across the country this year, as of March 5. This already represents more than half of the documented cases in 2025, which stood at 2,283.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, a status achieved when there has been no ongoing transmission in the country for more than a year. Even with the decline in cases in South Carolina, the United States is now at risk of losing its measles elimination status. According to the CDC, there have been 12 outbreaks in the United States this year, including ones in Arizona, Texas and Utah.
Linda Bell, South Carolina’s state epidemiologist, is encouraged by the decline in new cases in her state, although she notes that with schools’ spring breaks in March and April, there is a risk of increased exposure as families travel and visit tourist attractions.
“We remain concerned and need to be aware that we may see cases increase again from the low numbers we are currently seeing,” she said during a March 4 press briefing. “We are hopeful that the downward trend will continue, but we must be vigilant about the risk of seeing a further increase. »
The outbreak began with just a handful of cases in October and was concentrated in Spartanburg County. Low vaccination rates in schools have contributed to the spread of the virus, with social events during winter break fueling a surge in cases in January. Churches have also been a major source of exposure, according to Bell.
Measles symptoms, which include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, usually do not appear until one to two weeks after exposure. The characteristic measles rash takes several more days to develop, contributing to a delay in diagnosing the infection. Measles can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain swelling, both of which have been documented in South Carolina. More than 93 percent of cases in South Carolina have occurred in unvaccinated people. The vast majority of infections affect children under 18 years old.
Bell said modeling done earlier in the outbreak showed the outbreak in South Carolina could last six months or more. Now this could end sooner than expected.
The outbreak has led to an increase in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations in Spartanburg County and across the state. Compared to February 2025, there has been a 133 percent increase in measles vaccination in Spartanburg County, representing approximately 900 additional doses administered, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health. An additional 7,000 doses of measles vaccines were administered statewide in February, a 70 percent increase over the same period last year.
