Measles Outbreak Accelerates in Upstate South Carolina, Hundreds Quarantined

State health officials in South Carolina said the measles outbreak centered in Spartanburg County and the surrounding upstate region has accelerated, with the South Carolina Department of Public Health reporting at least 111 confirmed cases as of media briefings on December 10 through December 12, 2025. One national outlet reported a statewide total of 114 cases, with 111 clustered near Spartanburg, underscoring that the epicenter remains the northwest part of the state that includes Greenville and Spartanburg.

Officials have placed more than 250 people under quarantine, and several outlets cited a specific figure of 254 people who are subject to a 21 day quarantine after exposures. Health department materials indicate that some unvaccinated students have entered a second 21 day quarantine since the start of the school year as repeat exposures occurred. Officials named nine schools and a local church as sites of exposure. A health care setting was also identified as a location where people may have been exposed.

Vaccination gaps have been central to the outbreak. State epidemiologist Linda Bell reported that of the 111 cases in the upstate region, 105 were unvaccinated. Bell described the case increase as a "significant jump" and called the situation "accelerating." She said that "vaccination remains the best way to prevent the disruption measles is causing to education, employment and community life."

Public health briefings reviewed by reporters traced the cluster to early October and linked the recent surge to both low community immunization rates and holiday travel and large gatherings, including Thanksgiving. Measles is known to be highly contagious and can linger in the air for hours after an infected person leaves a room, a characteristic that has complicated containment efforts as exposures have touched schools, a church and medical facilities.

The outbreak in South Carolina comes amid a national resurgence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 1,900 measles cases across the United States this year, a figure often described as almost 2,000, and several states have reported outbreaks. Scientific commentary has warned that the wave of cases could bring the nation closer to losing its measles free status after more than 25 years, and some outlets have issued corrections as case counts were clarified in fast moving coverage.

Officials have not released a definitive count of hospitalizations or deaths tied to the Spartanburg cluster in the briefings cited, and health authorities are continuing to update contact tracing and quarantine lists. Local school districts and county health departments have been working to notify families of exposures and to arrange vaccination clinics as officials emphasize immunization as the primary tool to curb spread.

The unfolding situation has already caused classroom absences and workplace disruptions, as quarantines remove students and employees from daily routines. State public health leaders said they will provide further updates as investigations continue and more test results are confirmed.