Measles Outbreak Surges in South Carolina Schools

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – The United States is grappling with a growing measles outbreak, with South Carolina reporting over 600 cases, authorities said Tuesday. The surge comes amid rising public distrust of vaccines, marking the country’s worst outbreak of the highly contagious disease in more than 30 years.

In 2025, the US recorded over 2,200 measles cases and three deaths, including two children. Infections have continued to rise into 2026. Most of those affected in South Carolina were unvaccinated, with cases reported in schools and two universities.

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Health experts have expressed concern that the US could lose its “measles-free” status, achieved in 2000 through widespread vaccination. The Pan American Health Organization plans to reassess the measles status of the US and Mexico in April. Canada lost its status last November after recording over 5,000 cases in 2025.

Measles can cause fever, respiratory symptoms, and rash, and in severe cases, complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation may result in long-term effects or death.

Authorities have highlighted the role of vaccine hesitancy in the resurgence, pointing to the influence of public figures, including vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been criticized for fueling doubts about immunizations.