Measles is back—and it’s spreading fast. South Carolina has reported 88 new cases in just days, pushing the state’s total to 646 infections since October.
Health officials say the surge has forced more than 500 people, including students across 15 schools, into quarantine.
And that’s raising a bigger question: is the US at risk of losing its measles-free status?
The outbreak is centred in Spartanburg, a town of about 39,000 people, but it hasn’t stayed put.
Cases have now reached Clemson and Anderson universities, where dozens of students are isolating after exposure.
Vaccination Rates Decline
Why is this so worrying? Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on Earth.
It spreads through coughs and sneezes, and up to 90% of unvaccinated people nearby can get infected.
There’s no specific treatment—and complications like pneumonia or brain swelling can be severe.
The US eliminated measles in 2000. So what changed? Public health experts point to falling vaccination rates.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective, but herd immunity requires about 95% coverage. In Spartanburg County, it’s closer to 90%.
The past year has been the worst in decades, with over 2,000 cases nationwide and deaths reported in Texas.
As misinformation around vaccines grows louder, the virus is quietly reminding the country of an old truth: diseases don’t need permission to return.
