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South Carolina Measles Outbreak Highlights Growing National Concern
Near the back corner of a local library parking lot in Boiling Springs, largely hidden from the main road, South Carolina health officials set up a pop-up clinic offering free measles vaccines to combat a growing outbreak. Despite their efforts, only one person showed up that Monday afternoon.
“It’s progress. That progress is slow,” said Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist with the Department of Public Health during a recent press briefing. “We had hoped to see a more robust uptake than that in our mobile health units.”
Spartanburg County has been battling a measles outbreak since early October, with more than 50 cases identified. Though smaller than outbreaks in states like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Kansas, it reflects a troubling national trend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded over 1,700 measles cases and 45 outbreaks in 2025, including a major Texas outbreak where hundreds were infected and two children died.
For the first time in more than two decades, the United States is on track to lose its measles elimination status, a designation indicating that outbreaks are rare and quickly contained. Public health experts are alarmed by this reversal of what had been considered a significant public health achievement.
“Everyone talks about it being the canary in the coal mine because it’s the most contagious infectious disease out there,” said Josh Michaud, associate director for global and public health policy at KFF, a health information nonprofit. “The logic is indisputable that we’re likely to see more outbreaks.”
Spartanburg County’s vaccination rate ranks among the lowest in South Carolina, a problem that predated the pandemic. “Even before COVID,” noted Chris Lombardozzi, a senior vice president with the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Nearly 6,000 children in Spartanburg County schools last year—10% of total enrollment—either received exemptions from required vaccinations or did not meet vaccine requirements.
The overall percentage of students with required immunizations in Spartanburg fell from 95.1% to 90% between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 academic years. Public health officials stress that at least 95% coverage is necessary to prevent significant measles spread through community immunity.
“We’re seeing constant, small brush fires of measles outbreaks,” Michaud explained, attributing this pattern to communities with inadequate vaccination coverage.
Religious exemptions have played a significant role in declining vaccination rates. In South Carolina, such exemptions require only a notarized form without proof of religious affiliation or a doctor’s note. The number of students granted religious exemptions has increased dramatically over the past decade, particularly in the Upstate region, where they’ve grown sixfold. During the 2013-14 school year, 2,044 Upstate students had religious exemptions; by fall 2024, that number exceeded 13,000.
The South Carolina outbreak has been largely linked to one public charter school, Global Academy of South Carolina, where only 17% of the 605 enrolled students provided documentation showing they had received required vaccinations.
The pandemic intensified existing vaccine hesitancy. “Fear and misinformation surrounding COVID vaccines threw gasoline on the fire of people’s vaccine skepticism,” Michaud said. This skepticism has increasingly extended to previously accepted childhood vaccines.
National leadership has sent mixed messages. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly endorsed measles vaccines after visiting a Texas family whose daughter died from the disease. However, these statements contradict his long history of casting doubt on vaccine safety. Throughout 2025, Kennedy has made misleading statements about vaccines, and during a congressional hearing in September, he affirmed his position that no vaccines are safe or effective.
Kennedy has championed the concept of “health freedom” regarding vaccines, a talking point that has gained traction among Republicans. According to Michaud, this has had a “chilling effect all the way down through state and local lawmakers,” making some leaders hesitant to address the threat of measles outbreaks or promote vaccines.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, has stated that while measles “is a dangerous disease, but in terms of diseases, it’s not one that we should panic about.” He has explicitly opposed vaccine mandates, saying, “We’re not going to have mandates, and I think we are responding properly.”
The state’s measles vaccine promotion has been notably more subdued than its COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In 2021, the health department partnered with breweries for a “Shot and a Chaser” campaign offering free beverages to those who received COVID vaccines. In contrast, the measles vaccine clinics have featured no incentives or prominent signage.
Edward Simmer, interim director of the Department of Public Health, has faced political opposition due to his past support for COVID vaccines and masking. During a legislative hearing in April, Republican state lawmakers voted against his permanent confirmation, with one specifically criticizing the agency’s COVID vaccine campaign.
By mid-November, more than 130 people remained in quarantine in Spartanburg County, mostly students at local elementary and middle schools. Cases have also been linked to a church and Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
Despite low turnout at mobile clinics, health officials report that providers across Spartanburg County administered more than twice as many measles vaccines in October compared to the previous year. The final mobile vaccine clinic was scheduled for November 24.
“We’re reminding people that travel for the upcoming holidays increases the risk of exposures greatly,” Bell warned. “Due to that risk, we’re encouraging people to consider getting vaccinated now.”
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11 Comments
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can have severe complications, especially for young children. This outbreak shows why maintaining high vaccination rates is critical to preventing the spread of these preventable illnesses.
It’s disheartening to see vaccine hesitancy contributing to the return of measles outbreaks. This should be a wake-up call that we need to do more to combat misinformation and ensure widespread vaccination coverage.
It’s concerning to see measles cases on the rise in the US after years of being largely eliminated. Vaccination is crucial to public health – we can’t afford to let false claims about vaccine safety undermine efforts to control these diseases.
Agreed. Vaccine hesitancy is a real threat that needs to be addressed through education and outreach, not misinformation. The science is clear – vaccines are safe and effective.
This is a troubling development that highlights the urgent need to address vaccine misinformation. Measles is a dangerous disease, and we can’t afford to let it gain a foothold again in the US. Public education and outreach will be crucial.
This outbreak demonstrates the real-world consequences of vaccine misinformation. Measles was once eliminated in the US, but now we’re seeing a resurgence due to declining vaccination rates. We can’t let this trend continue.
It’s deeply concerning to see measles outbreaks reemerging in the US. Vaccination is a public health issue, not an individual choice – we all have a responsibility to protect our communities, especially the most vulnerable.
This outbreak highlights the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases like measles. Hopefully this serves as a wake-up call for those hesitant about vaccines.
Absolutely. Vaccine hesitancy is a growing problem that puts vulnerable populations at risk. Public health officials need to redouble efforts to combat misinformation and ensure widespread vaccination.
This outbreak is a sobering reminder of the importance of vaccination. Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation can have real public health consequences. Hopefully this spurs more people to get their shots and protect their communities.
While the scale of this outbreak may be smaller than in some other states, it’s still a significant public health concern. Vaccine hesitancy is a growing problem that puts all of our communities at risk.