News Desk news.uloscah.com
Measles outbreaks are rapidly worsening in parts of South Carolina and along the Utah–Arizona border, prompting mass quarantines and raising concerns that the United States could lose its measles elimination status.
In South Carolina, health officials confirmed 27 new measles cases between Friday and Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 111 over the past two months. The outbreak is concentrated in and around northwestern Spartanburg County, where more than 250 people—including students from nine elementary, middle, and high schools—are currently in quarantine. Some individuals are facing quarantine restrictions for the second time since the outbreak began in October.
State epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said most recent cases were linked to exposures at Way of Truth Church in Inman, noting that church leaders have cooperated fully with public health efforts.
“We are faced with ongoing transmission that we anticipate will continue for many more weeks,” Bell said.
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Growing Outbreak Along the Utah–Arizona Border
Meanwhile, a separate and expanding outbreak along the Utah–Arizona border has surged since August. Mohave County, Arizona, has reported 172 measles cases, while Southwest Utah has confirmed 82 cases. The border towns of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, have been hit hardest.
So far this year, Utah has confirmed 115 cases, and Arizona has logged 176, making the outbreak one of the largest regional clusters in recent years.
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U.S. Measles Cases Near 2,000
Nationally, measles cases are approaching 2,000, a dramatic increase for a disease that was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 47 outbreaks have been confirmed this year—nearly three times the number recorded in 2024.
Only eight states have not reported at least one case. Three measles-related deaths have been confirmed, including two Texas schoolchildren.
Public health officials warn that if measles spreads continuously for 12 months, the U.S. could lose its elimination status—an outcome that already occurred recently in Canada and across the broader Americas region.
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Declining Vaccination Rates Drive Spread
Experts say falling vaccination rates are fueling the resurgence. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the cause is straightforward.
“Parents are withholding their children from vaccination,” Schaffner said. “Vaccination was so effective that measles was eliminated. Now, we are turning the clock back.”
The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) is 97% effective after two doses and is required for school attendance in most U.S. states. However, vaccination rates have declined as more families delay or opt out of routine immunizations.
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Vaccine Policy Changes Add Complexity
In September, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend separating the combined MMRV vaccine into individual MMR and varicella shots for children under four. The decision followed concerns about a slightly increased risk of febrile seizures when the combined vaccine is used as a first dose in toddlers aged 12 to 23 months.
According to Dr. Céline Gounder, febrile seizures are rare and typically resolve without long-term effects, but they can alarm families and undermine vaccine confidence. Studies show no increased risk when the combined vaccine is given as a second dose between ages four and six.
Public Health Officials Urge Vaccination
Health officials continue to stress that measles is highly contagious but entirely preventable through vaccination. With outbreaks spreading across multiple states and quarantine numbers climbing, experts warn that restoring high vaccination coverage is critical to stopping further transmission.
Without renewed public trust and adherence to immunization schedules, they caution, measles could become a sustained threat once again in the United States.