Spartanburg County’s long measles outbreak may finally be weeks away from its official end, with South Carolina health officials confirming on April 14 that the case total has held steady at 997 for nearly a month.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health reported Tuesday that no new measles cases have been identified since March 17, maintaining the outbreak total at 997 cases — all connected to the Upstate outbreak that was first confirmed in October 2025 and centered in Spartanburg County. DPH has been reporting no new cases since mid-March.
Under state and federal health protocols, a measles outbreak is officially declared over after 42 consecutive days without a new infection — double the 21-day incubation period, which confirms that transmission has ceased. If no new cases are identified, South Carolina’s leading epidemiologist said in a March 25 briefing that the outbreak could be formally declared over by April 26, according to Reuters.
The 997-case total reflects the full scope of what became one of the largest measles outbreaks in recent U.S. history, centered primarily in Spartanburg County. The outbreak disproportionately affected children: of the confirmed cases, 372 were in the 5-to-17 age group and 134 were under the age of five. The vast majority — approximately 840 — were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
The outbreak prompted widespread school closures and quarantines across multiple Spartanburg County districts at its peak in January and February 2026, and drew national attention as public health authorities worked to contain transmission. More than 16,800 doses of measles vaccine were administered statewide in January alone, a 72 percent increase over January 2025, with a 162 percent increase in Spartanburg County specifically.
Spartanburg County’s school-age MMR vaccination coverage of 88.9 percent is below the state average of 93.7 percent and below the roughly 95 percent threshold considered necessary for herd immunity against measles. Health officials have urged families to verify their children’s vaccination status and to get the two-dose MMR vaccine if needed.
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, which handled a significant portion of measles-related care during the outbreak, has continued offering vaccination guidance to patients through its network of clinics and outpatient facilities.
What’s Happening
Q: Is Spartanburg’s measles outbreak over?
A: Not officially yet, but South Carolina DPH confirmed April 14 that no new cases have been reported since March 17. If that streak continues, the outbreak could be formally declared over by April 26 under the 42-day protocol.
Q: How large did the Spartanburg measles outbreak get?
A: The outbreak reached 997 confirmed cases, making it one of the largest measles outbreaks in recent U.S. history. It was centered in Spartanburg County and disproportionately affected unvaccinated children.
Q: What should Spartanburg families do now?
A: DPH continues to recommend that families check vaccination records and ensure children have completed the two-dose MMR series. Vaccines are available at primary care offices, pharmacies, and DPH health departments across the county.
Q: Why did Spartanburg have such a large outbreak?
A: Spartanburg County has an 88.9 percent MMR vaccination rate in schools, below the state average and below the roughly 95 percent threshold for herd immunity. A large, close-knit community with low vaccination coverage in the county was identified early as a primary factor in the outbreak’s spread.
Q: When will the outbreak officially be declared over?
A: South Carolina’s epidemiologist indicated the outbreak could be formally declared over by April 26 if no new cases emerge before that date, following the 42-day no-transmission protocol required by state and federal health authorities.
