Measles Outbreak Status Update - No New Cases Reported

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Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

The South Carolina Department of Public Health reports no new measles cases since March 27, maintaining the Upstate outbreak total at 997 cases. The outbreak will be declared over on April 26, 2026, pending 42 consecutive days without new cases. Age breakdown shows 639 cases in ages 5-17, 264 in children under 5, and 87 in adults 18+.

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What changed

SC DPH confirms the Upstate measles outbreak remains at 997 total cases with no active quarantines or isolations. The outbreak will officially end on April 26, 2026, if no new cases emerge, fulfilling the 42-day requirement (double the 21-day incubation period). Vaccination data shows 932 cases were unvaccinated, 20 partially vaccinated, and 26 fully vaccinated.

Healthcare providers should continue promoting MMR vaccination as the primary prevention measure. No immediate compliance actions are required as this is a status update; the April 26 date represents an anticipated declaration rather than a compliance deadline. Entities should monitor the outbreak dashboard for any developments.

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TUESDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports No New Measles Cases Since Friday, Keeping Outbreak Total at 997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 31, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. ― The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting no new cases of measles in the state since our last update Friday, keeping the total number of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak at 997.

There currently are no people in quarantine or isolation.

A period of 42 days with no new cases is required to declare an end to a measles outbreak. This is double the number of days for an incubation period (21 days) and a clear indicator of a broken transmission chain. If no new cases are reported, the last day of the outbreak will be April 26.

Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and stop this outbreak. Vaccines are available at many primary care provider offices and pharmacies, as well as DPH Health Departments.

To stay up-to-date on the latest measles outbreak information, visit our dedicated webpage here. For additional data related to the outbreak, visit our Measles Dashboard.

Outbreak Data Points
Age breakdown of 997 cases:
Under 5: 264
5-17: 639
18+: 87
Unknown: 7

Vaccination status:
932 unvaccinated, 20 partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, 26 vaccinated with the two-dose MMR sequence, and 19 unknown.