South Carolina's Measles Outbreak Confirms 20 More Cases in Spartanburg County

South Carolina's Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced it is actively responding to a measles outbreak centered around Spartanburg County.

Seven of the new cases were known household exposures; five resulted from a previously reported school exposure; two resulted from an exposure at church; and one resulted from an exposure at either school or church. The sources of four cases are unknown, and one is still being investigated, stated DPH.

As of December 30, 2025, DPH is reporting 179 cases of measles since early July, with 176 in the upstate area.

DPH wrote that some cases are travel-related exposures or close contacts of known cases. Other cases have no identified source, suggesting that measles is circulating in the community and could spread further.

We have seen measles spread quickly in unvaccinated households here in South Carolina. We also know that it can spread rapidly in unvaccinated communities based on outbreaks in other states, added the DPH.

Nationally, the U.S. CDC reported 2,012 confirmed measles cases across 44 jurisdictions as of December 23, 2025. Most of these cases were confirmed in Texas earlier this year.

Internationally, measles is an ongoing risk around the world, and more international travelers are getting infected. Both Canada and Mexico continue to report an excessive number of measles cases in 2025.

The CDC recommends that most international travelers ensure they have received an MMR vaccination before departing abroad.