What we learned from South Carolina's measles outbreak

"Being able to say this outbreak is over is certainly reassuring for the state of South Carolina, but it doesn't mean that measles is necessarily behind us. Measles anywhere is a risk everywhere."

"In the past two years, measles cases in the U.S. have skyrocketed, with outbreaks on a scale that had not been seen since the disease was deemed eliminated in the country a quarter-century ago."

"The recent flare-ups, including currently active outbreaks in Utah and Florida, have come amid a steady decline in vaccination rates and rising hesitancy and antivaccine messaging from the highest levels of government."

The measles outbreak in South Carolina lasted six months, infecting nearly 1,000 individuals, primarily unvaccinated children in a religious community. Although officials declared the outbreak over, experts warn that the risk of future outbreaks remains due to low vaccination rates across the U.S. Recent years have seen a significant rise in measles cases, with notable outbreaks in Texas, Utah, and Florida. The decline in vaccination rates and increased vaccine hesitancy contribute to the potential loss of the disease's elimination status in the country.

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