The US Is In For Another Bad Year of Measles Cases | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign InEmily MullinScienceJan 22, 2026 6:00 AMThe US Is In For Another Bad Year of Measles CasesA growing measles outbreak in South Carolina has infected more than 600 people since October, with hundreds more being potentially exposed.Photo-Illustration: Wired Staff; Getty ImagesSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyMeasles cases in the United States reached their highest level in more than 30 years in 2025, with 2,242 confirmed infections. A particularly bad outbreak in West Texas that began in January of last year was a significant driver of those cases. Now, a surge of measles in South Carolina is on track to outpace the West Texas outbreak, which could mean another year of high measles cases.“I’m concerned,” says Susan Kline, an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota. “Based on the size of the current outbreak going on in South Carolina, I don’t think it bodes well for the current year.”Around the country, states’ vaccination levels have been steadily declining in recent years. Coupled with the Trump administration’s hostility toward vaccines, the US is likely to see more measles outbreaks in the coming months and years.The outbreak in South Carolina began last fall, when the state’s health department reported an initial eight measles cases on October 2. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases linked to a common exposure. That number climbed to 176 by the end of the year. As of January 20, the state has confirmed 646 cases—most of them in the “upstate” region, the northwestern corner of the state.The West Texas measles outbreak resulted in 762 confirmed cases with 99 hospitalizations and two deaths among school-age children, both of whom were unvaccinated. The outbreak was officially declared over in August, seven months after it began.“We feel like we're really kind of staring over the edge, knowing that this is about to get a lot worse,” said Johnathon Elkes, an emergency medicine physician at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina, in a January 16 call with reporters.Measles is highly contagious, and the virus can linger in the air for hours after a person sneezes or coughs. Initial symptoms typically include a high fever, cough, and runny nose. The characteristic blotchy rash doesn’t appear until several days later. While most people recover from measles, the disease can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. The virus can damage the lungs and severely weaken the immune system, leaving people vulnerable to pneumonia and other infections for several weeks to months. Pneumonia is the most common cause of death related to measles in children.So far, 10 people in South Carolina have required hospitalization since the beginning of the outbreak there. That includes both adults and children. Cases have been identified on two college campuses, Clemson University and Anderson University, and the number of public exposure locations continues to grow by the week. In addition to the 646 confirmed cases, another 538 people in the state have potentially been exposed to measles and have been asked to quarantine at home while they wait to see if they develop symptoms.Right now, the state is seeing new cases in the double digits identified every day, South Carolina’s state epidemiologist Linda Bell said during a January 21 briefing.“We may be in this for certainly weeks more, and potentially months more, if we don't see a change in protective behaviors,” she said.There is no antiviral drug to treat measles. The best protection against the disease is vaccination with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Among the 646 cases in South Carolina, 563 are unvaccinated, 12 have received one of two doses of the MMR vaccine, 13 are vaccinated, and 58 have an unknown vaccination status. The vaccine may not provide adequate protection for people with weakened immune systems.Bell said on Wednesday that there was an "encouraging uptake” of the vaccine in the first month or so of the outbreak, but that has slowed.A vaccination rate of at least 95 percent with both doses of the MMR vaccine is generally needed to protect a community against measles. Many states have dropped below that threshold for MMR vaccination.In Spartanburg County, the center of the South Carolina outbreak, 90 percent of school-age children are up-to-date on their vaccinations, but rates vary across school districts. At Global Academy of South Carolina, for instance, just 21 percent of students were fully vaccinated as of the end of December. More than a dozen students at Global Academy are in quarantine as of January 20.While states set their own vaccine requirements for school entry, parents are increasingly seeking vaccine exemptions for their children. That trend is being seen throughout the country, not just in South Carolina.“The only exit I see for this getting better is an improvement in the community in getting vaccinated,” Elkes said.You Might Also LikeIn your inbox: Maxwell Zeff's dispatch from the heart of AIThe best EVs coming in 2026Big Story: Your first humanoid coworker will be ChineseWhat to do if ICE invades your neighborhoodSpecial edition: You’re already living in the Chinese centuryEmily Mullin is a staff writer at WIRED, covering biotechnology. Previously, she was an MIT Knight Science Journalism project fellow and a staff writer covering biotechnology at Medium's OneZero. Before that, she served as an associate editor at MIT Technology Review, where she wrote about biomedicine. Her stories have also ... 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The United States is facing a potentially significant resurgence in measles cases, driven by declining vaccination rates and a concerning outbreak in South Carolina. As of January 2026, over 646 cases have been confirmed in the state, with hundreds more potentially exposed, representing the highest level of measles infections in over 30 years. This situation is largely attributed to a combination of factors, including a long-standing trend of declining vaccination levels across the country, accelerated by the Trump administration’s perceived hostility towards vaccines.

The initial outbreak in South Carolina, which began in October 2025, was characterized by an initial eight confirmed cases. This quickly escalated, leading to over 176 cases by the end of the year. The outbreak centered in the “upstate” region of the state. The most devastating element of this outbreak was the impact on vulnerable populations, particularly school-aged children. Seventy-six individuals required hospitalization, with two deaths among school-age children, both of whom were unvaccinated. This stark reality underscores the life-threatening consequences of measles, especially for those whose immune systems are compromised.

Contributing to the crisis are ongoing, low vaccination rates. As of January 2026, 563 of the confirmed cases were among individuals who were unvaccinated, while 12 had received only one dose of the MMR vaccine, 13 were fully vaccinated, and 58 had an unknown vaccination status. According to Susan Kline, an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, the size of the South Carolina outbreak doesn't reflect well on the current year. The outbreak highlights a crucial issue: a measles vaccination rate of at least 95 percent is necessary to protect communities effectively. Currently, many states have dropped below this threshold.

The transmission dynamics of measles are particularly concerning, given the disease's highly contagious nature. Measles can linger in the air for hours, posing a significant risk of spread. Initial symptoms, such as fever, cough, and runny nose, are followed by the characteristic rash. While most people recover, measles can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death in children with measles.

The South Carolina outbreak is a microcosm of a broader national trend. The state’s health department’s initial response of eight cases quickly spiraled out of control, and the number of exposure locations continues to grow. As of recent briefings, an estimated 538 additional people in South Carolina have been potentially exposed to measles and are under quarantine. The state epidemiologist, Linda Bell, warns that the situation could persist for weeks or even months if protective behaviors don't improve. The current case numbers, with over 10 new cases reported daily, signal an urgent need for increased vaccination efforts.

Ultimately, the outlook hinges on improving vaccination rates. While there's no specific antiviral treatment for measles, vaccination remains the most effective defense. Johnathon Elkes, an emergency medicine physician at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina, stated that the “only exit I see” for the situation to improve is through a community-wide commitment to increased vaccination rates.