Measles cases surge in South Carolina as U.S. risks losing elimination status
CBS News • • health
Key Points:
- South Carolina's measles outbreak has grown by 88 new cases, totaling 646 since October, primarily centered in Spartanburg County with exposures at schools, a supermarket, and a museum.
- The U.S. faces the risk of losing its measles elimination status, defined by the WHO as having no local outbreaks for 12 months, due to rising cases and declining vaccination rates below herd immunity thresholds.
- In 2025, the U.S. reported over 2,240 measles cases, the highest in 30 years, with 171 cases already recorded in 2026 as of mid-January, signaling ongoing challenges in controlling the disease.
- Health experts emphasize the effectiveness and safety of the MMR vaccine,
