Measles Activity Reported in North Carolina as South Carolina Ends Historic Outbreak

Regional health officials continue monitoring after nearly 1,000 cases in the Carolinas since late 2025

By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer

A months-long measles surge across the Carolinas has left public health agencies urging continued vigilance, even as South Carolina formally closed its historic outbreak this spring. North Carolina reported multiple confirmed cases between late 2025 and early 2026, while South Carolina experienced the largest measles outbreak in the United States in more than three decades.

North Carolina’s activity began in December 2025 and continued into February 2026, with state health officials confirming 24 cases during that period. Cases were identified in Buncombe, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Polk, Johnston, Lincoln, Nash, Union, and Burke counties. Several infections were linked to travel or exposure connected to the larger outbreak occurring in South Carolina at the same time.

By late June 2026, North Carolina’s total for the winter surge remained anchored to those 24 confirmed cases, with no new reports since February.

South Carolina’s outbreak, centered in Spartanburg County, ultimately reached 997 confirmed cases between October 2025 and March 2026. State health officials recorded at least 21 hospitalizations, most involving unvaccinated school-age children. After 42 days without additional cases, South Carolina declared the outbreak over on April 27, 2026.

The prolonged spread prompted a statewide increase in MMR vaccinations, with health agencies reporting a 31% rise in immunization demand during the height of the outbreak.

Despite the scale of South Carolina’s outbreak, coastal counties in both states remained largely unaffected. Brunswick, Columbus, and Horry counties did not report widespread transmission, though North Carolina officials noted that some cases elsewhere in the state were connected to travel patterns involving South Carolina’s Upstate region.

Sources: NC Dept. of Health and Human Services, SC Dept. of Public Health, CDC

Disclosure: This article is for informational reporting only and does not constitute medical advice. Readers should consult a qualified healthcare provider or official public health guidance for medical concerns.

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