
South Carolina measles outbreak ends as vaccination uptick offers cautious hope
South Carolina’s measles outbreak, the US’s largest in decades, has ended with about 1,000 confirmed cases and no new transmissions for more than 42 days, aided by vaccination, aggressive contact tracing, and quarantine—though the outbreak cost roughly $2 million. The event coincided with a record year for US measles cases and may be nudging a wary uptick in MMR vaccination among young children, with CDC data showing 97% of 3-year-olds with at least one dose in 2025. Nevertheless, measles activity persists elsewhere (nearly 1,800 cases in 2026 and multiple outbreaks), highlighting the need for continued vaccination efforts and vigilance.













