Updated: Jan. 20, 2026

Current Situation

DPH is actively responding to a measles outbreak in the Upstate region. As of Jan. 20, 2026, DPH is reporting 646 cases of measles centered around Spartanburg County in the current outbreak.

On Oct. 2, 2025, DPH confirmed a measles outbreak in Upstate region. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases of the same infectious disease linked to a common exposure.

There has been a rise in measles cases in the Upstate this year, with most concentrated in Spartanburg County. 

Some cases are travel-related exposures or close contacts of known cases. Other cases have no identified source, suggesting that measles is circulating in the community and could spread further. We have seen measles spread quickly in unvaccinated households here in South Carolina. We also know that it can spread quickly in unvaccinated communities based on outbreaks in other states.

Key Takeaways

• Measles is highly contagious:
  • A person is contagious four days before and after a rash begins, meaning someone can spread measles before they know they are infected.
  • The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves.
• The measles vaccine (MMR and MMRV) is the best way to protect yourself and others against measles. Use the DPH Recommendations for Measles Vaccination chart to understand if you need to be vaccinated or not.

Updates

We will post measles updates twice a week, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday. In time, this update frequency may change to more or less each week depending on disease activity.

Public Exposure Locations

People who were exposed, especially those without immunity through vaccination or previous disease, should monitor for symptoms.

This table is updated when additional exposures are identified. Last updated: Jan. 20, 2026

Media Briefings (2026)

• Jan. 14 Briefing
• Jan. 7 Briefing

News Releases (2026)

• TUESDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 88 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 646, Additional Exposures (Jan. 20)
• FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 124 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 558, Additional School and Public Exposures (Jan. 16)
• TUESDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 124 New Measles Cases in Upstate, New Public Exposures, and Upcoming Vaccination Opportunities (Jan. 13)
• FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 99 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 310 (Jan. 9)
• TUESDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 26 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 211 (Jan. 6)
• DPH Measles Investigation Identifies Public Exposures at Three Locations (Jan. 3)
• FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports Nine New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 185 (Jan. 2)

About Measles

Measles symptoms to watch for typically begin 7-12 days (but up to 21 days) after exposure, and include cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes, and fever followed by a rash two to three days later that starts on the face then spreads to the rest of the body.

We remind people that measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness resulting in hospitalizations and complications. If anyone who may have been exposed develops measles symptoms, immediately call your doctor and let them know about the exposure and symptoms so that they can tell you what to do next. 

Most people recover from measles completely on their own. For uncomplicated cases, bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and over-the-counter medications to reduce the fever and headache may help make infected individuals more comfortable. For those who require hospitalization, supportive care is the only treatment. 

DPH’s measles page contains what people need to know about measles (e.g., video, educational materials), and frequently asked questions about symptoms, prevention, vaccination history, and DPH’s role in protecting South Carolina from measles.

Understanding South Carolina's Vaccination Rates Among School Children 

We still have vulnerable populations, both nationally and in South Carolina. The CDC reports that in 2025: the majority, 97%, of people who got measles were unvaccinated. Measles is still common in many parts of the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa. Travelers with measles continue to bring measles into the U.S. Measles can spread easily when it reaches a community where groups of people are unvaccinated. Based on the 2021 CDC NIS (National Immunization Survey) Child data, coverage rates in the 19- to 35-month-old survey indicate that 88.9% of these aged children in South Carolina have had at least one dose of MMR vaccine. In South Carolina, two doses of MMR vaccine are required for school entry for kindergarten through 12th grade. For the 2023-2024 school year, 92.1% of kindergarten students had two doses of MMR vaccine, down from 95% for the 2019-2020 school year.

• 45-Day Report of Schools with Required Immunization Certification, 2025-2026 School Year (pdf) (Revised Dec. 29, 2025)
• 45-Day Report of Schools with Required Immunization Certification, 2024-2025 School Year (pdf)
• School Vaccination Coverage and Exemption Data by County

U.S. Data

Find the latest numbers of confirmed U.S. measles cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) update this page weekly.

For Providers

• Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for People Exposed to Measles Guide (pdf)
• Clinical Assessment Guide (pdf)
• Provider Guidance: Early MMR Vaccination for Infants (6–11 Months) During a Measles Outbreak (pdf)
• DPH Health Alert: Measles Outbreak in Upstate Region (pdf)

For the Public

• Measles Fact Sheet for Daycares (pdf)