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CDC Confirms 171 U.S. Measles Cases This Year as South Carolina Outbreak Doubles

Low vaccination coverage is driving rapid spread that is straining contact tracing.

Overview

  • New CDC data show 171 confirmed cases across nine states this year, with Georgia, Oregon, and Virginia reporting their first 2026 cases in recent days.
  • South Carolina’s outbreak has surged to about 434 cases after 124 new infections since Friday, with 409 people in quarantine and a public exposure reported at the state museum.
  • Utah’s total reached 201 cases, including 147 in the southwest region; officials say 185 of those infected were unvaccinated and Summit County logged its first case with a Jan. 5 school exposure window.
  • The CDC reports roughly 95% of U.S. cases are among people who are unvaccinated or of unknown status, while two MMR doses provide about 97% protection and kindergarten coverage has slipped to 92.5%.
  • Health officials say Utah’s cases track to the same virus strain linked to last year’s Texas outbreak, and experts warn continued transmission could jeopardize the nation’s measles elimination status.