In November 2025, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, reported more than 50 measles cases since early October. The state Department of Public Health set up mobile clinics, including one in Boiling Springs, to provide free measles vaccinations for adults and children. Attendance at these clinics has been low. State epidemiologist Linda Bell noted the slow progress and said there is a need to increase vaccination rates to control the outbreak.
This outbreak is part of a national increase in measles cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 1,700 measles cases and 45 outbreaks in the United States in 2025. The largest outbreak started in Texas, with hundreds of infections and two child deaths. The United States now faces the possibility of losing its measles elimination status, which it has held for more than twenty years.
The outbreak in South Carolina is smaller than those in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or Kansas. However, it highlights the effects of lower vaccination rates and the spread of vaccine misinformation. Josh Michaud of KFF Health News said measles is highly contagious and that declining trust in vaccines could lead to more preventable diseases. He cited skepticism, misinformation, and political debate as factors affecting public confidence in vaccines…