South Carolina Measles Outbreak Hits 185 Cases Amid Vaccine Skepticism

One infected individual can transmit the virus to nine out of ten people around them. According to Al Jazeera, officials in the southern state of South Carolina have announced that the local measles outbreak has surged to 185 cases, adding 9 new infections this week alone. This resurgence of a disease once declared eliminated is triggering a major public health alarm.

The Numbers Behind South Carolina Measles Outbreak 185 Cases

In a January 2, 2026 update, state health officials revealed a stark correlation between the spread and vaccination status. Out of the total cases, 172 patients were completely unvaccinated against the MMR vaccine. Four were partially vaccinated, while only one case involved a fully vaccinated person. The majority of these infections are concentrated among children under the age of 17.

The U.S. successfully eliminated measles in 2000, but that status is now under threat. CDC data shows that the MMR vaccination rate among kindergarteners dropped from 95.2% in 2019-2020 to 92.7% by the 2023-2024 school year. This decline represents roughly 280,000 children left unprotected.

Political Rhetoric and the 2026 Midterms

The resurgence follows a period of intense skepticism fueled by political figures. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services Secretary under President Donald Trump, has faced criticism for spreading misinformation. Despite the medical community's consensus on vaccine safety, Kennedy has shared unfounded claims linking vaccines to autism and alleging the presence of fetal debris in the MMR vaccine.

Public health has now become a central battleground for the 2026 midterm elections. Pediatrician Annie Andrews, a Democratic candidate, is leveraging the outbreak in her campaign to unseat Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Andrews has made combating the measles outbreak a cornerstone of her platform, highlighting the real-world consequences of health policy failures.