Measles Outbreaks Spread Across South Carolina and Arizona-Utah Border

Health officials in South Carolina confirmed 124 new measles cases since Friday, as the outbreak in the northwestern part of the state continues to skyrocket after the holidays.

There's a second, separate measles outbreak along the Arizona-Utah border, where 418 people have been infected since August.

Last year was the nation's worst year for measles spread since 1991, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. confirmed 2,144 cases across 44 states. Three people died, all of them unvaccinated.

What Measles Does

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It's preventable through vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000, though the country is at risk of losing that status.

Measles infects the respiratory tract first, then spreads throughout the body. It causes high fever, runny nose, cough, red watery eyes and a rash. Most kids recover, but infection can lead to dangerous complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

The CDC defines an outbreak as three or more related cases.

South Carolina Outbreak

South Carolina has logged 434 cases as of Tuesday in an outbreak centered in Spartanburg County.

The outbreak has rapidly grown in the last month to one of the worst in the nation. Hundreds of children have been quarantined because of school exposures, some more than once. A person with measles also exposed people at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia on Friday.

The case count could soon rival an outbreak last year in Texas, where 762 cases were reported and two children died. Experts believe that was likely an undercount.

Arizona-Utah Border Outbreak

The outbreak in the border towns of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona—an area nicknamed Short Creek—continues to grow.

Arizona health officials added nine new cases Tuesday, for a total of 217 in Mohave County. Utah officials added two cases Tuesday for a total of 201.

Experts in both states have said they're concerned about undercounts.

"We did see our cases slow and then pick back up again after the holidays," said Nicole Witt, of the Arizona Department of Health Services. "We're hopeful we'll see the end of this outbreak soon but, right now, we continue to see the same trickle of cases week over week."

Vaccination Is the Answer

The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old; the second shot between 4 and 6 years old.

After two doses, the shot is 97% effective against measles and its protection is considered lifelong.

Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates—above 95%—due to "herd immunity." But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic. More parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

What It Comes Down To

2025 was the worst year for measles in the U.S. since 1991. Over 2,000 cases across 44 states. Three people died, all unvaccinated.

Measles was considered eliminated from the U.S. in 2000. We're at risk of losing that status if vaccination rates keep dropping and outbreaks keep growing.

Experts think both outbreaks are undercounted. People aren't always getting tested or reporting cases, especially in communities skeptical of public health officials.

This is all preventable with a vaccine that's been around for decades and proven safe and effective.

Whether these outbreaks keep growing or get contained depends on vaccination rates improving and public health efforts to track and isolate cases. Right now, both outbreaks are still adding new cases weekly with no clear end in sight.

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