South Carolina is grappling with a measles outbreak that has reached unprecedented levels, surpassing the previous record set in Texas last year. The state's Department of Public Health reported nearly 800 cases since October, with the majority centered around Spartanburg County in the upstate region.
The outbreak has persisted for four months, defying expectations that it would have run its course by now. While the US declared measles eliminated in 2000, meaning there should be no locally transmitted infections or prolonged outbreaks, the South Carolina outbreak continues to raise concerns about reduced vaccination rates and the likelihood of future outbreaks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most cases - nearly 70% of the total - were among children under 12 years old. The vaccination status of the affected individuals is alarming, with 93% of reported cases in 2025 being unvaccinated or unknown. This trend has sparked fears about the effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The MMR vaccine remains a crucial tool in preventing measles outbreaks, but recent comments from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have undermined vaccination confidence among some experts. While Kennedy's statements downplayed the risks associated with the vaccine, the scientific consensus is clear: the MMR vaccine has been extensively tested and proven safe.
Experts stress that maintaining adequate levels of measles vaccination is crucial to preventing future outbreaks. "The ongoing outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining adequate levels of measles vaccination," said William Moss, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center. The US risks losing its measles elimination status if cases continue at this rate, making immunization more important than ever.
As the situation in South Carolina continues to unfold, it's essential for parents and caregivers to ensure their children are up-to-date on their vaccinations and take steps to protect themselves against measles. With the risk of future outbreaks remaining high, vigilance is necessary to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease.
The outbreak has persisted for four months, defying expectations that it would have run its course by now. While the US declared measles eliminated in 2000, meaning there should be no locally transmitted infections or prolonged outbreaks, the South Carolina outbreak continues to raise concerns about reduced vaccination rates and the likelihood of future outbreaks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most cases - nearly 70% of the total - were among children under 12 years old. The vaccination status of the affected individuals is alarming, with 93% of reported cases in 2025 being unvaccinated or unknown. This trend has sparked fears about the effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The MMR vaccine remains a crucial tool in preventing measles outbreaks, but recent comments from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have undermined vaccination confidence among some experts. While Kennedy's statements downplayed the risks associated with the vaccine, the scientific consensus is clear: the MMR vaccine has been extensively tested and proven safe.
Experts stress that maintaining adequate levels of measles vaccination is crucial to preventing future outbreaks. "The ongoing outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining adequate levels of measles vaccination," said William Moss, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center. The US risks losing its measles elimination status if cases continue at this rate, making immunization more important than ever.
As the situation in South Carolina continues to unfold, it's essential for parents and caregivers to ensure their children are up-to-date on their vaccinations and take steps to protect themselves against measles. With the risk of future outbreaks remaining high, vigilance is necessary to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease.
I'm seriously worried about this South Carolina measles outbreak! It's crazy that we're still seeing so many cases, especially among kids under 12 
. I mean, the CDC says 93% of reported cases in 2025 are unvaccinated or unknown... what's going on? 
We can't just let our guard down and forget about vaccination rates! 
It's like we're playing a game of chance with people's lives 
. The more I hear from experts, the more I realize how important it is to stay up-to-date on vaccinations. I get that there are risks associated with any vaccine, but let's be real, we know what works! 
Protecting our kids and community has to be a priority... we can't afford to wait until it's too late 
.
800 cases in SC already? it's crazy how fast things can go from bad to worse when people start dropping their guard on vaccinations... i mean i get where the health sec's trying to address concerns but come on robert f kennedy jr, you're a health sec not some anti-vax crusader 
anyway back to sc, 93% unvaccinated? that's just numbers though what about the parents who are gonna freak out when they find out their kid is infected? gotta be super careful over here, measles ain't no joke 
. It's appalling to see nearly 800 cases reported since October, especially with most cases being among young children who are supposed to be fully protected by the MMR vaccine 
. The trend of unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status is disturbing and undermines the effectiveness of the vaccine 
. We can't afford to lose our measles elimination status, and it's essential for parents and caregivers to ensure their children are up-to-date on their vaccinations 
.
The more I read about this outbreak, the more I think we need to make sure everyone knows how important vaccination is. Not just for kids, but for all of us who are vulnerable to diseases like measles. We can't be too careful with our health! 
. Like, I understand we've got a lot of misinformation out there from some influencers, but come on, measles is still around and it's not just affecting kids, it's also adults who haven't been vaccinated. The CDC says 93% of the cases in 2025 are unvaccinated or unknown... that's wild 
. I'm all for choice and stuff, but when you're choosing to get sick with a disease that can be super serious, like measles, I don't think so 
. It's not just about SC, it's about the whole country losing its measles elimination status, that's what worries me 
.
i cant believe its 2025 and we're still dealing with this stuff 
i mean, i get it, some people might have concerns about the vaccine, but come on, science is clear 
and we can't let misconceptions ruin our public health 
The SC measles outbreak is super scary 
That's, like, crazy 
. It's not just about the individual, it's about community health 
. I'm all for a healthy dose of skepticism 
... the MMR vaccine is tried and true 
! So, parents, please, get your kids vaccinated ASAP 
! We can do this 
, South Carolina! 
It's time to get real about measles and make sure everyone's protected. Vaccination is key, folks! 
this is getting scary... a measles outbreak in SC is terrifying, especially with 93% of cases being unvaccinated 
I'm sure it's just a coincidence that the vaccine effectiveness rate is being downplayed by some experts... what if this is exactly why we need more vaccination campaigns and education? 
and 93% of the cases are unvaccinated or unknown?! 
what's going on with our society?! 
the MMR vaccine has been proven safe time and time again. we need to get on board with getting vaccinated ASAP! 
What's the plan to get those vaccination rates back up?
I mean, 93% unvaccinated cases is insane! 
it's not just about individual protection, but community protection too 
But seriously, it's crazy how fast it's spreading and no one's getting vaccinated... I mean, 93% unvaxxed or unknown? What's going on over there?! 
It's like, we've been here before, folks! 
. We gotta get our act together and keep those vaccinations up-to-date if we wanna prevent these outbreaks from happening again...
. I think we need to get back to basics and make vaccination a top priority again 
. This is about our kids' future, folks! Let's get vaccinated, stay vigilant, and protect ourselves from the spread of this highly contagious disease 
They could be in serious trouble! I guess the good news is that we can all do our part to get more people vaccinated and help stop this outbreak. It's not rocket science, folks! 
We just need to prioritize our health and the health of those around us.
Like, come on! The science is clear - it's safe, it works, and we need herd immunity to stay protected. 