Significant increase in measles incidence in ongoing outbreak in South Carolina brought the United States to the brink of losing its elimination status.
The South Carolina Department of Health on Tuesday reported 20 new measles cases since Friday, bringing the state's total this year to 179. That number exceeds the number of measles cases reported throughout the U.S. in six of the last 10 years.
This year the country counted According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been more than 2,000 cases of measles, 93% of which were among unvaccinated people or people with unknown vaccination status. This is by far the highest number since the disease was first thought to be eradicated in the United States 25 years ago.
Measles is considered eliminated from a country if it no longer spreads continuously throughout the year. In the US, that deadline is fast approaching, with transmission of the highly contagious disease continuing since around January 20th. Unless this trend stops abruptly in the next three weeks (which is highly unlikely), the country could lose elimination status as Canada did in November.
Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina state epidemiologist, said at a press briefing Tuesday that transmission of measles continues in households, schools and churches, and that 287 people are in quarantine to help limit the spread.
“We expect an increase in cases as early as January,” she said.
All but three of the measles cases in South Carolina this year have been linked to an outbreak in Spartanburg County, in the northwestern part of the state.
The vast majority of cases have occurred in unvaccinated people, most of whom are children aged 5 to 17 years.
“We believe the holidays contributed to this,” Bell said, referring to measles transmission at family gatherings and during travel.
At least three people in South Carolina were hospitalized with complications from measles, according to the health department.
The surge in measles cases in the United States this year is largely due to declining vaccination rates among children and increase in vaccine exemptions. Fewer than 93% of kindergarteners have received two doses of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. for the 2024-25 academic year up from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year. Vaccination level is at least need 95% to contain the spread of the virus.
Great measles outbreak in West Texas this year accounted for a significant share of the total number of cases in the US, with about 760 cases linked to the outbreak reported between January and August. It was concentrated in Gaines County, where the measles vaccination rate among kindergarten children was 77% as of the 2024-25 school year. Some affected families chose unproven means for example, vitamins and fish oil instead of measles vaccinations.
Two unvaccinated school-aged children in Lubbock, Texas, died from measles, as did an unvaccinated adult across the border in New Mexico who did not seek medical attention.
Before this year, there had been no measles death in the United States for about a decade.
In addition to the current outbreak in South Carolina, cases of measles have been reported. seething in Arizona and Utah as part of an outbreak that began in late summer. And just last week, Washoe County, Nevada, reported its first case of measles since 2018. Health officials also warned of possible measles exposure at Newark Liberty International Airport, Boston Logan Airport and Denver International Airport.
Many public health experts expressed concern about federal communications on vaccines since Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office in February. While Kennedy encouraged people to get the MMR vaccine, he also considered vaccination a personal choice. emphasis on unproven treatments such as steroids and antibiotics, and falsely claimed that immunity from measles vaccine wanes quickly.
Common symptoms of measles include a blotchy rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, pink or watery eyes and white patches on the inside of the cheeks. In severe cases, pneumonia or swelling of the brain may develop. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Without immunity from a vaccine or previous infection, about 9 out of 10 people who get measles will get it.
State and county health departments continue to emphasize that vaccines are the best way to prevent disease. Two injections are 97% effective and usually provide lifelong protection.
