Listen to the article
As measles cases continue to surge in South Carolina, Rep. Pramila Jayapal has issued a stark warning about the Trump administration’s approach to public health. The Washington Democrat demanded officials “stop lying and follow the science” as the outbreak in Spartanburg County reached at least 129 confirmed cases since October.
Health authorities have confirmed that the vast majority of those infected were unvaccinated against the highly contagious disease. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles, but vaccination rates in the affected area have fallen below the critical threshold needed for community protection.
“As President Donald Trump and Kennedy push deadly anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, measles is making a comeback across America,” Jayapal said Friday. “People will die because of this.”
Her warning comes amid a troubling national resurgence of the disease. The United States has reported more than 1,900 measles cases and 47 outbreaks in 2025, compared to just 285 cases across 16 outbreaks last year. At least three people, including two children, have died from measles in the U.S. this year.
The Spartanburg County situation continues to worsen. More than 250 people have been exposed to measles in schools, a healthcare facility, and a church. Dozens of unvaccinated children have been forced to quarantine for 21 days, with some facing double quarantine periods after multiple exposures.
Linda Bell, South Carolina’s state epidemiologist, identified “lower-than-hoped-for vaccination coverage” as the driving factor behind the outbreak. While public health experts consider 95% vaccination coverage necessary to eliminate measles transmission, only about 90% of Spartanburg County students had received required childhood immunizations. Some affected schools have rates “well below 90%,” according to The New York Times.
The trend extends beyond this single outbreak. Across South Carolina, MMR vaccination rates among schoolchildren have declined significantly since 2020, dropping from 96% to 93.5%. The state permits religious exemptions for school immunization requirements, one of many factors influencing vaccination rates.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a long history of questioning vaccine safety, appears to have sent mixed messages on immunizations. While acknowledging in April that “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine” following deaths in Texas, he simultaneously promoted unproven alternative treatments experts called “valueless.”
Kennedy’s influence on vaccine policy has raised alarms among public health professionals. A CDC advisory panel he assembled recently recommended against hepatitis B vaccination for newborns whose mothers test negative for the disease—a move experts fear could reverse decades of progress against childhood hepatitis B.
Additional concerns emerged in November when the CDC website was modified to suggest a link between vaccines and autism—a thoroughly debunked theory—cannot be ruled out. Earlier, as measles cases surged along the Utah-Arizona border, President Trump advocated splitting combination vaccines like MMR into separate shots, echoing arguments made by discredited former physician Andrew Wakefield.
The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000 due to high vaccination rates, but Scientific American now reports the country is “inching toward losing its measles-free status by early next year” amid the current outbreaks.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has encouraged vaccination while firmly stating, “We are not going to do mandates on people to go get vaccinated.” Similarly, an HHS spokesperson characterized vaccination decisions as matters of personal choice, telling the New York Times that people in affected communities should consult their doctors about “what is best for them.”
Senator Bernie Sanders connected these developments to broader healthcare concerns, questioning the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” slogan while criticizing policies that “undermine lifesaving vaccines and spark disease outbreaks.”
“The Trump administration,” Sanders said, “is endangering the health of the American people.”
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
This is a concerning situation. Measles is a serious disease, and vaccination is critical for community protection. The anti-vaccine misinformation being spread is dangerous and could cost lives. I hope officials are able to get this outbreak under control quickly.
Vaccination is a critical public health measure, and it’s concerning to see it being undermined by misinformation. This measles outbreak is a stark reminder of the real-world impacts of anti-vaccine rhetoric. I hope the authorities can work to address this issue and prevent further outbreaks.
This is a worrying development. Measles outbreaks can have severe public health consequences, particularly for unvaccinated individuals. I hope the officials are able to take swift action to contain the spread of the disease and address the underlying issues around vaccine hesitancy.
The resurgence of measles in the US is deeply troubling. Vaccines are safe and effective, and their importance for community health cannot be overstated. I hope this outbreak serves as a wake-up call and leads to greater efforts to promote vaccination and counter misinformation.
This is a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination. Measles is highly contagious, and outbreaks can quickly spiral out of control without high vaccination rates. I hope the authorities are able to get a handle on this situation soon.
The drop in vaccination rates is really worrying. Measles spreads rapidly, and unvaccinated populations are at high risk. I hope the affected community can take steps to improve vaccination coverage and limit further spread of the disease.
The growing influence of anti-vaccine activists is extremely concerning. Measles is a dangerous disease, and vaccination is the best way to protect vulnerable populations. I hope this outbreak serves as a wake-up call about the real-world consequences of spreading misinformation.
It’s troubling to see measles cases surging like this. With effective vaccines available, this shouldn’t be happening. Officials need to respond aggressively to contain the outbreak and counter the harmful anti-vaccine rhetoric.
Measles can be a life-threatening illness, especially for young children. It’s deeply troubling to see an outbreak like this, especially when there is an effective vaccine available. I hope the authorities are able to get this situation under control quickly.