Health officials in South Carolina confirmed Friday that the state’s historic measles outbreak has reached 991 cases, marking an increase of just one case since Tuesday’s report. The slow growth suggests the nation’s most significant measles outbreak in decades may be losing momentum.
The outbreak, which started in October, has primarily affected the northwestern region of South Carolina, including areas around Greenville and Spartanburg. Current data shows 52 individuals remain under quarantine due to virus exposure, while three others are in isolation.
Vaccination efforts have intensified dramatically in response to the crisis. February saw a 70 percent jump in measles vaccinations statewide compared to the same period last year. Spartanburg County experienced an even more dramatic response, with vaccination rates climbing 139 percent last month compared to February 2025.
Federal assistance continues to pour into the state. Three specialists from the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, known as “disease detectives,” are scheduled to arrive next week to help examine outbreak data. This follows the recent deployment of twelve public health professionals funded by the CDC Foundation who are already working to help contain the spread.
Analysis of the infected population reveals concerning vaccination gaps. Of the 991 cases, 925 individuals had not received measles vaccination, while 19 were partially vaccinated. Twenty-six cases occurred in fully vaccinated people, and vaccination status remains unknown for 21 patients.
According to the most recent CDC figures from March 5, the United States has recorded 1,281 confirmed measles cases in 2026, with South Carolina’s outbreak representing a significant portion of the national total.
