Measles outbreaks are intensifying along the Utah-Arizona border and in South Carolina, with hundreds of individuals now placed under quarantine. In South Carolina, state health officials confirmed 27 new cases between Friday and Tuesday in northwestern Spartanburg County, adding to a two-month total of 111 people infected by the vaccine-preventable disease. More than 250 individuals, including students from nine local elementary, middle, and high schools, are under quarantine, with some facing isolation for the second time since the outbreak began in October. The majority of new infections in South Carolina have been linked to exposures at Way of Truth Church in Inman, where church leaders have been described as “very helpful,” according to state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell. She noted, “We are faced with ongoing transmission that we anticipate will go on for many more weeks, at least in our state.”
In the Southwest, outbreaks in Arizona and Utah have grown substantially since August. Mohave County, Arizona, has reported 172 cases, while the Southwest Utah Public Health Department has documented 82 cases. The cities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, have been the most heavily affected. Utah has recorded a total of 115 cases this year, and Arizona has confirmed 176. Nationwide, measles cases are approaching 2,000 in 2025, despite the disease being considered eliminated in the United States since 2000. The majority of cases have occurred among unvaccinated individuals.
Internationally, Canada and the wider Americas region recently lost their measles elimination status, a designation given when there is no continuous local spread of the virus. Experts warn that the U.S. could face the same risk if measles spreads continuously for an entire year. Earlier this year, a significant outbreak affecting Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, which began in January, sickened nearly 900 people and marked the United States’ worst measles year in more than three decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all but eight states have reported at least one case in 2025, with 47 outbreaks confirmed compared to 16 in 2024. Three deaths have occurred, including two Texas schoolchildren.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious disease at Vanderbilt Medical Center and a liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), told CBS News that the “simple answer” behind the outbreak spread is that “parents are withholding their children from vaccination.” He explained, “You know, vaccination is so very effective that … by comprehensively vaccinating all of our children, eliminated measles from the United States,” and added, “we are turning the clock back.” The CDC reports that the combined MMR vaccine is safe and provides 97% protection after two doses. Most U.S. children are required to receive the vaccine to attend school, yet vaccination rates have fallen as more parents either delay shots or request waivers.
In September, the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee recommended splitting the combined MMRV vaccine, which covers measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, into separate MMR and varicella shots for children under four. This decision followed a restructuring of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in June, bringing in members with a history of vaccine skepticism. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder noted that while the combined MMRV vaccine offers the convenience of a single injection, it carries a slightly higher risk of fever-related “febrile” seizures when used as the first dose in toddlers aged 12-23 months, particularly between 14-18 months. Gounder added that these seizures, while rare and typically resolving without lasting effects, can be alarming for families and undermine confidence in vaccines. Studies indicate no increased risk when MMRV is given as a second dose at ages 4 to 6, once children have passed the highest-risk window.
Measles Outbreaks Expand Rapidly
Measles continues to spread across parts of the United States, particularly in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona, primarily affecting unvaccinated populations. Health officials emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective tool for controlling transmission and preventing severe outcomes, while ongoing monitoring and quarantine measures aim to contain outbreaks in the most affected communities.
