Measles outbreaks are currently escalating in South Carolina and along the Utah-Arizona border, prompting significant public health responses. In South Carolina, health officials reported 27 new measles cases between Friday and Tuesday, bringing the total to 111 cases in the northwestern Spartanburg County area since the outbreak began in October. Over 250 individuals, including students from multiple schools, are in quarantine, with many experiencing this for a second time. The majority of new cases are linked to exposures at Way of Truth Church in Inman, where church leaders have cooperated with health authorities.

In Arizona and Utah, outbreaks have intensified since August, with Mohave County, Arizona, reporting 172 cases and the Southwest Utah Public Health Department documenting 82 cases. The border cities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, are particularly affected. Overall, Utah has confirmed 115 measles cases this year, while Arizona has reported 176.

Nationally, the measles case count is nearing 2,000, a significant increase for a disease that was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. The majority of cases have occurred among unvaccinated individuals. Canada and the broader health region of the Americas have also lost their elimination status due to ongoing transmission. Experts warn that the U.S. is at risk of losing its elimination status if measles spreads continuously for a year. A large outbreak that began in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma in January resulted in nearly 900 cases, marking the worst year for measles in over three decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all but eight states have reported at least one measles case this year, with 47 outbreaks confirmed compared to 16 in 2024. Tragically, three individuals, including two schoolchildren from Texas, have died from the disease.

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious disease at Vanderbilt Medical Center, attributed the outbreaks to parents opting out of vaccinating their children. He emphasized the effectiveness of vaccination in eliminating measles in the past and noted that the current situation represents a regression in public health. The combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is deemed safe and provides 97% protection after two doses, with most U.S. children required to receive it for school attendance. However, vaccination rates have declined as more parents choose to waive vaccinations or fall behind on schedules.

In September, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended separating the combined MMR and varicella vaccine into two shots for children under four years old. This decision followed a significant overhaul of the committee by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who appointed several members with histories of vaccine skepticism. Dr. Céline Gounder, a medical contributor for CBS News, noted that while the combined MMRV vaccine offers convenience, it carries a slightly higher risk of febrile seizures when administered as the first dose to toddlers aged 12-23 months. Although these seizures are rare and typically resolve without lasting effects, they can create anxiety for families and potentially undermine trust in vaccination efforts. Studies indicate that there is no increased risk when the MMRV vaccine is given as the second dose at ages four to six, after children have outgrown the highest-risk period.