153 Students Quarantined in Measles Outbreak
An emerging measles outbreak in South Carolina has prompted health authorities to quarantine 153 unvaccinated students after exposure in Spartanburg County schools, revealing signs of unrecognized community transmission in the region.
Schools Under Quarantine, Cases Confirmed
In a recent media briefing, state and local officials confirmed that the exposed students attended Global Academy and Fairforest Elementary School in Spartanburg County. Because they lack immunity, the students have been excluded from school attendance until their potential infectious period has passed.
At the same time, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the state’s 11th confirmed measles case of 2025, and the eighth case since September 25 that appears tied to the current Upstate outbreak. The new case is a child in Greenville County; investigators are working to determine whether it is linked to the Spartanburg cases.
In earlier statements, DPH had already confirmed eight measles cases in the Upstate region as of October 1, 2025, including five cases whose illnesses developed within the prior month. Health officials described two of those eight as having no travel history or known exposure, a red flag for ongoing spread.
State epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell warned that the outbreak “tells us there is active, unrecognized community transmission of measles occurring in the Upstate,” underscoring the urgency of finding the cause of the outbreak in the region.
Quarantine Protocols
Measles is notoriously contagious. The virus can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room. The DPH urged that vaccination with the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine remains the most effective protection.
Exposed, unvaccinated students are subject to a 21-day quarantine period, consistent with public health guidance. Spartanburg County schools have cooperated, excluding unvaccinated students through October 22 in at least one case.
Measles Cases Surge as Vaccination Rates Drop
South Carolina’s immunization levels in the Upstate region are estimated at around 90%, falling short of the 95% threshold often cited as needed for herd immunity. This gap leaves the community vulnerable to rapid spread, especially when unvaccinated persons are exposed.
The current outbreak is part of a larger national trend. In 2025, the U.S. is seeing its highest measles counts in decades. Earlier this year, the West Texas outbreak was traced to hundreds of infections and two child deaths. In Minnesota, two new cases were reported recently — both in unvaccinated children with likely exposures to unvaccinated adults.
Declining vaccination coverage is a strong contributor. CDC data show that in the 2021–22 school year, ~93% of kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles, whereas in 2023–24 the rate dropped to ~92.7%. Historically, coverage above ~95.2% was common in the 2019–20 school year.
Public Health Response
The DPH and local school districts are engaged in contact tracing, notification of potential exposures, and rigorous isolation protocols. They also continue to stress that vaccination is safe, highly effective, and the best defense.
As the review continues, new cases may yet emerge. Health officials have asked community members to stay home if symptomatic and to contact health providers by phone before visiting clinics.
For families uncertain about vaccination status, public health agencies recommend checking immunization records and receiving catch-up MMR doses if needed. Especially in regions below herd immunity thresholds, every additional vaccinated person helps slow transmission.
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