Measles cases: Measles outbreaks are accelerating in parts of the United States, with rising case counts along the Utah–Arizona border and in South Carolina, where health authorities have placed hundreds of people under quarantine to limit further spread.
In South Carolina, state health officials confirmed 27 new measles cases between Friday and Tuesday in an outbreak centred in and around northwestern Spartanburg County. That brings the total to 111 infections over roughly two months. More than 250 people have been quarantined, including students across multiple elementary, middle and high schools.
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Some have had to quarantine for a second time since the outbreak began in October. Officials said many of the state’s newer cases were linked to exposures connected to the Way of Truth Church in Inman. State epidemiologist Dr Linda Bell said ongoing transmission is expected to continue for weeks.
A separate outbreak has also grown sharply across the Utah–Arizona border. Mohave County, Arizona, has reported 172 cases, while Utah’s Southwest public health region has logged 82. The border towns of Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah, have been among the hardest hit. Overall, Utah has confirmed 115 measles cases this year, and Arizona has confirmed 176.
Across the country, the measles tally is nearing 2,000 cases, raising concerns about the potential loss of the US measles “elimination” status, an official designation held since 2000. To lose it, measles would need to spread continuously within the country for a full year. Health officials say the risk rises when outbreaks continue to smoulder without being fully contained.
The surge follows a major outbreak earlier this year across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma that sickened nearly 900 people and helped drive the highest measles activity in decades. This year, measles-related deaths have also been reported, including two Texas schoolchildren.
Measles remains one of the most contagious viral infections, but it is preventable. Health experts continue to point to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as a safe, highly effective protection, with about 97% immunity after two doses. While school vaccination requirements remain in place in most areas, officials say declining immunisation rates and missed doses have left pockets of communities more vulnerable, making outbreaks easier to ignite and harder to stop.
