Health officials in South Carolina announced that 153 unvaccinated students from two Spartanburg County schools are under a 21-day quarantine following exposure to measles. The schools affected are Global Academy of South Carolina and Fairforest Elementary.
The state has confirmed at least eight measles cases linked to the outbreak, with 11 total cases reported so far this year.
Measles Cases Surge to Highest Levels Since 1992
Nationwide, the U.S. has reported at least 1,563 measles cases this year — the highest number since 1992, according to the CDC. Forty-four outbreaks have been documented in 2025, up from 16 last year, signaling a concerning rise in transmission.
Vaccination Rates Decline Post-Pandemic
Experts point to falling vaccination rates as a major factor behind the resurgence. Prior to the pandemic, more than 95% of U.S. kindergarteners were vaccinated with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) shot. That rate dropped to 92.5% in the most recent school year, leaving an estimated 286,000 kindergarteners without protection.
Health officials continue to urge families to update vaccinations to prevent further outbreaks.
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