US — Ars Technica

South Carolina's measles outbreak jumped to Washington state 5 times in 2 weeks

PolicyOctober 28, 20261 min read

Washington state health officials say a large measles outbreak in South Carolina reached their state five separate times in two weeks in January. The spread caused 26 cases before it was stopped.

What happened

A new study in NEJM Evidence describes how measles from South Carolina got into Washington state. Measles spread into Washington five separate times over two weeks in January. Together, these introductions led to 26 cases among Washington residents. Health officials then stopped the spread.

Key numbers and facts

South Carolina's outbreak started on October 2, 2025, and was declared over on April 26, 2026.
Officials confirmed 997 cases in South Carolina during the outbreak.
At the time, it was the largest measles outbreak since the virus was declared eliminated in the US. Pennsylvania's ongoing outbreak has since passed it.
Washington had five separate introductions of the virus, which led to 26 cases.
The first Washington case got sick with a rash on January 12, after a trip to South Carolina.

Why travel matters now

The US declared measles eliminated in 2000. Before this, most measles cases came from travelers from other countries, or from unvaccinated US residents who caught the virus abroad. Now, vaccination rates have dropped in many places, and outbreaks are bigger and more common. So spread inside the country, from one state to another, is now a bigger risk than cases from other countries.

Why it matters

The study shows that a single outbreak can spread to far-away places. Health teams need tools to tell whether a case is a new arrival or local spread. The study says whole genome sequencing, a detailed test that reads the virus's genetic code, can help. It shows where the virus came from and helps officials respond faster.

What to watch

Whether more states see measles spread from big domestic outbreaks.
How fast health officials can use genome testing to find new arrivals of the virus.
Whether vaccination rates rise again to help stop outbreaks.

Glossary

measles: A very contagious virus that causes fever and a red rash. It can spread easily among people who are not vaccinated.
NEJM Evidence: A medical research journal that publishes studies on health and medicine.
whole genome sequencing: A lab test that reads the full genetic code of a virus. It helps show whether cases are linked.
outbreak: A sudden rise in cases of a disease in a certain place over a short time.

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