South Carolina Measles Outbreak "Accelerating" Amid Low Vaccination Rates
- Dec 11
- 2 min read
The measles outbreak in South Carolina is currently "accelerating," state health officials warned Wednesday, driven largely by a combination of recent Thanksgiving travel and alarmingly low vaccination rates. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the Department of Public Health (DPH), noted the spike in cases following holiday get-togethers, calling "accelerating" an accurate term for the worsening situation.
As of Wednesday, 111 measles cases have been recorded in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Since Friday alone, 27 new cases were reported, bringing the year’s total reported cases to the DPH up to 114. Critically, 105 of the 111 cases in the Upstate involved unvaccinated individuals, while three others were only partially vaccinated.
The highly contagious virus has spread across the region, with the bulk of infections occurring in schools and a church. At least 16 cases were specifically traced back to the Way of Truth Church in Inman. In response to the growing threat, 254 people had been placed in quarantine as of Tuesday, with 16 individuals isolated. Because it takes 21 days for symptoms to appear after exposure, those quarantined must stay isolated for three weeks. This reality has led to significant disruption, with some unvaccinated students now facing a second 21-day quarantine since the school year began.
The situation in South Carolina highlights the consequences of vaccine hesitancy, as the state has “lower than hoped for” vaccination coverage. Data shows that the rate of students with required vaccines dropped from nearly 96 percent in 2020 to 93.5 percent in the 2025 school year. In key areas like Spartanburg and Greenville Counties, the K-12 vaccination rate for the MMR vaccine sits around 90 to 90.5 percent, falling short of the 95 percent threshold needed to protect against outbreaks.
While the DPH deployed mobile health clinics to offer MMR shots, Dr. Bell indicated that only a "relatively small number of doses" were administered. Bell stressed that vaccination remains the best way to prevent the disruption this disease is causing to education, employment, and communities. Given the ongoing transmission, Bell anticipates the spread in South Carolina will continue for "many more weeks".
Nationally, the U.S. has recorded at least 1,912 cases across 42 states as of Tuesday, marking a massive resurgence that puts the country at risk of losing its measles elimination designation, which was achieved in 2000. More than half of these national cases occurred among children. Three deaths have been reported in the U.S. this year: two otherwise healthy young girls during an outbreak in West Texas, and a suspected death in New Mexico. Measles is highly contagious—the most contagious known virus in the world—and nearly anyone unvaccinated who is exposed will be infected.
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Keywords: South Carolina Measles Outbreak
South Carolina Measles Outbreak
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