Spartanburg County's Measles Outbreak Exceeds 300 Cases

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) recently reconfirmed that an ongoing measles outbreak in the Upstate region during 2025 has extended into 2026.

On January 9, 2026, DPH reported 310 cases of measles in the current outbreak. Most of these measles cases were concentrated in Spartanburg County. Currently, about 256 infected people in SC were unvaccinated before infection.

DPH wrote 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.

DPH has identified new public exposures at Jesse S. Bobo Elementary and began notifying potentially exposed students, faculty, and staff on December 30, 2025. Students from Jesse S. Bobo Elementary, Sugar Ridge Elementary, and Boiling Springs Elementary who quarantine successfully without becoming ill are scheduled to return to classes on January 10, 2026.

Separately, North Carolina has reported measles cases in early 2026 linked to travel/exposure in South Carolina, including three in Buncombe County, which is located north of Spartanburg County, SC.

As of January 12, 2026, measles vaccines are available at many primary care provider offices and pharmacies, as well as DPH Health Departments and the Buncombe County Immunizations Clinic at 40 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, NC.

Both county health departments say vaccination remains the best way to prevent measles and stop these outbreaks