The United States is currently facing a resurgence of measles, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting over 1,900 cases in 2025. This increase is particularly pronounced in South Carolina, where health officials have confirmed 111 cases since early October, with 27 new cases reported recently. The outbreak has been linked to low vaccination rates in the region, particularly in Spartanburg and Greenville Counties, where only 90 percent and 92.4 percent of students are vaccinated, respectively, falling below the 95 percent threshold necessary to prevent community transmission.

The South Carolina Department of Health has indicated that the outbreak is not yet under control, with more than 250 individuals currently in quarantine due to potential exposure. Notably, 105 of the reported cases involved individuals who were unvaccinated. The outbreak has also led to significant disruptions in education, with over 100 students quarantined across four schools, following exposures at the Way of Truth Church and Inman Intermediate School.

Dr. Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist, emphasized the importance of vaccination as the most effective preventive measure against measles, which is highly contagious and can lead to severe health complications. The MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine is recommended for children and provides 97% protection against measles infection. However, misinformation propagated by anti-vaccine activists has contributed to declining vaccination rates, leading to a 33-year high in measles cases nationwide.

In addition to South Carolina, outbreaks are also occurring in Utah and Arizona, with 115 and 176 cases reported, respectively. The CDC has recorded 47 outbreaks in 2025, nearly three times the number from the previous year, resulting in over 200 hospitalizations and three fatalities, including two children. If the transmission of the virus is not contained by January, the U.S. risks losing its measles elimination status, a public health milestone achieved in 2000 through widespread vaccination efforts.