Officials in South Carolina on Oct. 2 confirmed an outbreak of measles in the state.
As of Oct. 1, eight measles cases have been reported in the northern part of the state, the South Carolina Department of Public Health said. Five of the patients became sick within the past month.
All of the people are unvaccinated, and none had previously had measles. They are isolating to try to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Officials are also working to track down people who may have been exposed.
The source of the three previously confirmed cases was related to travel. Many measles cases stem from people traveling outside the country and returning with the disease.
The new cluster of cases started with two patients who did not travel recently. Officials also said they have not identified the source of exposure. The other three patients were exposed to measles through contact with those people.
“Measles is highly contagious, and there is risk for continued, rapid spread of the disease in the Upstate among communities with low immunization rates,” Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist, said in a statement. “Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles infection and spread. We strongly encourage everyone to review their immunization records and make sure they are up to date on all recommended vaccinations, including MMR.”
Officials expect additional cases and urged people who become ill to stay home. If they visit a doctor, they should notify the doctor ahead of time if they have symptoms indicative of measles.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when infected people cough or sneeze. The droplets can linger for up to two hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms include high fever, cough, and red, watery eyes. Other problems, such as pneumonia, severe diarrhea, and rash, may appear later.
In 2025, the CDC and other officials confirmed 1,544 measles cases in the United States across 42 states. That’s the most in the country since 1992.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said over the summer that officials did not view the situation as an emergency, and Texas—where the bulk of the cases have been recorded—and New Mexico have since said outbreaks there ended.
Some new cases have been reported in other states, in addition to South Carolina.
The Minnesota Department of Health said on Friday that it confirmed 10 new measles cases since Sept. 29. The cases stem from domestic or international travel, and all the patients are unvaccinated, according to the department.
“The significant increase in measles cases around the U.S. this year, and the fact that measles is still very prevalent in other countries, continues to highlight the urgency for families to make sure their children are up to date on their measles immunizations,” Myra Kunas, a state health official, said in a statement.
The CDC recommends children receive one dose of a measles vaccine around 1 year of age, and a second dose from 4 to 6 years of age.
Side effects of the vaccine include pneumonia, diarrhea, and rash.
The CDC is poised to recommend the MMR only for younger children, rather than also giving the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine as an option. That vaccine would still be available to children for the second dose if the CDC accepts advice from its vaccine advisory committee.
The Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC’s parent agency, declined to comment on when the CDC will accept or reject the advice.