At a Glance
- 20 new measles cases in South Carolina this week, bringing the state’s 2024 total to 179-higher than the U.S. total in six of the last ten years.
- The U.S. has recorded over 2,000 measles cases this year, 93 % of them among people with no or unknown vaccination status.
- Measles transmission has persisted since Jan 20; the country could lose its elimination status within three weeks if the trend does not stop.
Why it matters: The rising outbreak threatens the U.S.’s 25-year elimination status and highlights a national decline in childhood vaccination coverage.
South Carolina Outbreak
South Carolina’s health department reported 20 new measles cases since Friday, raising the state’s yearly total to 179. The majority of cases are linked to an outbreak in Spartanburg County, and 287 people are currently quarantined to limit spread. Dr. Linda Bell said at a press briefing:
> “We do anticipate more cases well into January.”
She added that holidays contributed to transmission at family gatherings and during travel, and that at least three people in the state have been hospitalized with complications.
Nationwide Measles Landscape
Across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counts over 2,000 measles cases, 93 % of them among unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals. Transmission has been sustained since Jan 20, putting the U.S. at risk of losing its elimination status within the next three weeks-an outcome that happened to Canada in November. The West Texas outbreak alone accounted for 760 cases from January to August, with kindergartners in Gaines County having only a 77 % MMR vaccination rate; two unvaccinated, school-aged children in Lubbock and an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico died, marking the first U.S. measles deaths in roughly a decade.
Symptoms and Protection
- Common symptoms include a blotchy rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, pink or watery eyes, and white spots on the inside of the cheeks.
- Severe cases can progress to pneumonia or brain swelling.
- Two MMR shots are 97 % effective and usually provide lifelong immunity.
| School Year | MMR Coverage in Kindergartners |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 93 % |
| 2019-20 | 95 % |
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. is approaching the end of its measles elimination status due to sustained transmission.
- South Carolina’s outbreak is the largest in the country this year, driven largely by unvaccinated children.
- Childhood MMR coverage fell below the 95 % threshold, increasing vulnerability to future outbreaks.
The surge in measles cases underscores the urgent need to maintain high vaccination rates and counter misinformation that threatens public health.
