Cases linked to travel have appeared in North Carolina and Washington<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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MONDAY, Jan. 12, 2026 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Measles<\/a> cases are climbing fast in South Carolina, and health officials say the outbreak is now spreading beyond state borders.<\/p>\n The South Carolina Department of Public Health<\/a> confirmed 99 new measles cases since Jan. 6, bringing the state\u2019s total to 310 cases, officials said in their latest update on Friday. About 200 people who were exposed to the virus are now in quarantine.<\/p>\n Most cases are centered in Spartanburg County, in the northwest part of the state.<\/p>\n \u201cSome cases are travel-related exposures or close contacts of known cases,\u201d the health department said. \u201cOther cases have no identified source, suggesting that measles is circulating in the community and could spread further.\u201d<\/p>\n That spread has already begun.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, North Carolina health officials reported three siblings in Buncombe County were diagnosed with measles after visiting Spartanburg.<\/p>\n In Washington state, health officials said three people who traveled from South Carolina were later diagnosed with measles in Snohomish County.<\/p>\n One was an adult who had received at least one dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, while two were unvaccinated children.<\/p>\n \u201cThe family visited multiple locations\u201d while contagious, officials said, including restaurants, a church and a trampoline park.<\/p>\n What’s more, a separate measles outbreak along the Arizona\u2013Utah border has reached 390 cases, including 214 in Arizona and 176 in Utah.<\/p>\n Health officials say there is no evidence the outbreak is linked to South Carolina.<\/p>\n Utah health officials reported multiple exposures in recent weeks, including events at a high school in St. George and a drill competition near Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n In Ohio, three children, ages 10, 7 and 2, have been diagnosed with measles, according to state officials. A fourth child was said to be showing symptoms.<\/p>\n \u201cThe children were all unvaccinated at the time they were exposed and traveled to an area in the United States with an ongoing measles outbreak,\u201d the Ohio Department of Health wrote<\/a> on its website.<\/p>\n Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known.<\/p>\n Last year, the United States recorded 2,144 measles cases, the highest number since 1991. About 93% of cases were in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on measles vaccination<\/a>.<\/p>\n