USA Herald – Health officials are warning that a rapidly expanding measles outbreak in South Carolina is pushing the United States closer to losing its long-standing measles elimination status, a public health milestone achieved more than two decades ago.
State authorities confirmed nearly 90 new measles infections this week, bringing South Carolina’s total to more than 640 cases since the outbreak began in October. The majority of infections have been reported in and around Spartanburg County, where health departments say vaccination coverage remains below recommended levels.
Public exposure alerts have been issued for several locations, including schools, retail stores, and cultural sites, as officials work to trace transmission and limit further spread.
Public health experts say the scale and duration of the outbreak raises serious concerns at the national level. Under international health standards, a country maintains measles elimination status only if sustained local transmission does not continue for more than 12 months.
The United States eliminated measles in 2000, but declining childhood vaccination rates have allowed the virus to regain a foothold in multiple regions. Federal health data shows the U.S. recorded its highest number of measles cases in decades last year, with thousands of confirmed infections tied to under-vaccinated communities.
Health officials caution that South Carolina is now becoming a case study in how quickly measles can spread when herd immunity weakens.
