FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Apr. 27, 2026

Today, as we declare an end to the Upstate measles outbreak, the largest in the United States in more than 35 years, I wish to humbly and profoundly thank the many South Carolinians whose hard work prevented this outbreak from becoming far larger and more serious than it could have become. I am very thankful for their efforts and support during this challenging time.

While 997 is a large number, without the front-line help from a diverse and dedicated group of people from all backgrounds and walks of life, I believe many more cases – and potentially more hospitalizations or even deaths – would have occurred.

The outbreak was predominantly contained to one area of one county and never went statewide, thanks to timely investigations, identification of those exposed, and people’s willingness to stay home. In many ways, this was a textbook response to dealing with an outbreak.

First, I’d like to thank the many DPH staff who worked 30 consecutive weeks, including weekends and holidays, since Oct. 2, 2025, on this response. Our internal Incident Management Team, led first by Dr. Linda Bell, then by Louis Eubank, has met every possible challenge as we navigated the outbreak.

I am also grateful for the outstanding support we have received and continue to receive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation, including regular meetings with their experts, modeling, vaccine support, financial support, and staffing. Clemson University, whose disease modeling center is among the best in the country, has also been a crucial partner.

But I’d also like to thank some other groups, without whose efforts this outbreak would have been far worse. First, I’d like to thank our school partners, from district superintendents to individual school nurses, who were invaluable resources during the outbreak. In an outbreak that touched seven public school districts and many private schools, so many administrators, principals, school nurses, faculty and staff rolled up their sleeves to help keep their schools safe and ensure those susceptible children who were exposed were able to return to school as quickly as possible.

Secondly, I can’t thank enough all the many health care providers in the Upstate and beyond, from front-line staff in hospitals and urgent care settings to doctors and nurses and other staff in family and pediatric practices. They quickly learned about a disease many had never seen before and took precautions to ensure people received the care they needed without putting others at risk. It was largely due to their tireless efforts to communicate the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine through one-on-one conversations with families that led to a 93.6 percent increase in MMR vaccinations during the outbreak.

Third, and very importantly, I want to thank the families who were impacted for their willingness to stay home when necessary to protect the public good. Without the remarkable level of cooperation we saw, things could have looked far different. Their concern for their fellow South Carolinians made a big difference.

And lastly, I want to say a special thank you to our faith-based partners, who provided locations for mobile clinics and opened their arms to serve as vital points of information and measles education.

No one asks to be part of an outbreak, but thanks to the dedication of many South Carolinians, from school and hospital staff, medical providers, faith-based groups, the DPH team, businesses, and families working together, we have overcome this outbreak.

The best way to prevent measles is the MMR vaccine, which is safe and 97% effective. Even as this outbreak ends, measles remains a risk. If you or your children are not protected against measles, I encourage you to talk with a health care provider to learn more about the risks and benefits of the MMR vaccine and determine if it is right for you and your family. At DPH, we know we cannot let our guard down. We will continue to be vigilant, monitoring for any new cases of measles, conducting wastewater testing as an early warning sign, keeping the public informed, and making the MMR vaccine available through our health departments and medical providers across the state.

Thank you again to everyone who was a part of the effort to reduce measles spread in the Palmetto State. Although I hope we do not have another outbreak, if we do, I am convinced South Carolina is well prepared. As we learned from this response, South Carolinians are strong, we are resilient, and when challenged, we rise to the occasion and are better, together.

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