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US Measles Outbreak Threatens Elimination Status
21 Jan
Summary
- South Carolina reports 88 new measles cases, expanding the current outbreak.
- The US risks losing its measles elimination status due to rising case numbers.
- Vaccination rates have dropped below the threshold needed for herd immunity.
The United States is facing a critical threat to its measles elimination status as cases continue to rise, notably in South Carolina. As of January 13, 2026, the nation had recorded 171 measles cases, with South Carolina reporting an additional 88 cases, bringing its total to 646 since October.
The current outbreak is concentrated in Spartanburg County, with public exposure sites including schools, a supermarket, and a museum. Measles, a highly contagious disease, can lead to severe complications, hospitalization, and death. Health officials emphasize that the MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, yet vaccination rates have declined in recent years.
This decline has pushed rates below the herd immunity threshold, contributing to the outbreaks. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis expressed concern, stating that the US is not handling the situation well, using Texas and now South Carolina as examples of the impact of low vaccination rates and insufficient public health response.
Canada recently lost its measles elimination status, and the Pan American Health Organization will review the US and Mexico's status in April. Maintaining this status is a significant public health indicator. Daskalakis warned that failure to retain elimination status could lead to measles becoming a common occurrence.
