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5d ago

South Carolina Measles Outbreak Hits 646 As CDC Deputy Downplays Loss of U.S. Elimination Status

Health authorities are sequencing virus genomes to determine if yearlong transmission will cost the U.S. its elimination status.

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FILE - In this March 18, 2019 file photo, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham speaks at a business event in Baton Rouge, La. Louisiana’s Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, moved quickly to expand Medicaid when he took office in 2016. His state is the only one in the Deep South to embrace that signature piece of Barack Obama’s health law. And the Medicaid expansion program isn’t going anywhere even if Edwards is ousted by a Republican in this fall’s election. Instead, his two main opponents Abraham and Eddie Rispone are attacking Edwards’ hallmark achievement on management, not the program’s existence. (AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte, File)
Principal Deputy Director of the CDC Ralph Abraham in the Capitol on Oct. 24, 2017.

Overview

  • South Carolina reported 88 new infections this week, bringing the outbreak to 646 cases concentrated in under‑vaccinated communities, with exposures spanning K‑12 schools and two universities.
  • State data show most infections are in people who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated, and hundreds of contacts have been told to quarantine as daily case counts continue in double digits.
  • CDC scientists are conducting whole‑genome sequencing of measles viruses, after identifying the D8‑9171 strain across several outbreaks, with findings expected within months to clarify whether spread has been continuous.
  • PAHO’s regional commission will review the United States’ measles status on April 13, a decision that hinges on whether transmission since the West Texas outbreak began on Jan. 20, 2025 has been uninterrupted.
  • CDC Principal Deputy Director Ralph Abraham said losing elimination status is “not really” significant and “the cost of doing business,” drawing criticism as experts link the surge to falling vaccination coverage and strained public‑health capacity.