COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is declaring a formal end to the measles outbreak in the Upstate that totaled 997 cases from October 2025 through March of this year.
The last confirmed case was reported March 15, and a period of 42 days of no new cases is required to declare the end of a measles outbreak. This number is double the number of days for an incubation period (21 days) and is a clear indicator of a broken transmission chain.
DPH Interim Agency Director Dr. Edward Simmer said, “Today, as we declare an end to the Upstate measles outbreak, the largest reported in the United States in more than 35 years, I wish to humbly and profoundly thank the many South Carolinians whose hard work prevented this outbreak from becoming far larger and more serious than it could have become. I am very thankful for their efforts and support during this challenging time.
While 997 is a large number, without the front-line help from a diverse and dedicated group of people from all backgrounds and walks of life, I believe many more cases – and potentially more hospitalizations or even deaths – would have occurred.
The outbreak was predominantly contained to one area of one county and never went statewide, thanks to timely investigations, identification of those exposed, and people’s willingness to stay home. In many ways, this was a textbook response to dealing with an outbreak.“
Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and future outbreaks. Vaccines are available at many primary care provider offices and pharmacies, as well as DPH Health Departments.
Key data points about the outbreak are below.
Outbreak Data Points
MMR Vaccinations Administered During Outbreak Showing Increase from Previous Year
MMR Vaccinations Administrations by Age
Vaccination Status of 997 Cases:
Unvaccinated: 932
1 MMR dose: 20
2 MMR doses: 25
3 MMR doses: 1
Unknown: 19
Age Breakdown of 997 Cases:
Under 5: 264
5-17: 639
18+: 87
Unknown: 7
County Breakdown of 997 Cases:
Spartanburg: 940
Greenville: 36
Anderson: 8
Pickens: 6
Lancaster: 4
Cherokee: 2
Sumter: 1
Upstate Measles Outbreak By the Numbers (October 2025-March 2026)
- 7 school districts affected
- 33 schools impacted with exposures
- 874 students asked to quarantine
- 423 outbreak-related measles queries from outlets in North America, Europe and Asia
- 1,670+ individual calls made by case investigators
- 3,788 additional MMR doses given in Spartanburg County over previous year (93.6% increase)
- 14,745 additional MMR doses given in the Upstate over previous year (82.4% increase)
- 81,096 MMR vaccinations given overall statewide, up 31.3% from previous year
- $2.1 million – estimated cost to the state of outbreak
- 2,294 quarantine letters sent
- 30 consecutive weeks/weekends worked
- 29 media briefings
- 61 news releases issued
Breakdown of case counts per week
