Measles Cases in South Carolina Rise to 950

State health department reports 17 new infections since Tuesday, but officials say it's too early to tell if outbreak is slowing

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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South Carolina reported 950 measles cases on Friday, including 17 new infections since Tuesday, according to the state health department. Officials said it is still too early to know whether the recent dip in daily cases signals a slowdown in the outbreak, which began in October and has been centered in the northwest part of the state.

Why it matters

The South Carolina outbreak is part of the nation's largest measles surge in more than three decades. Measles is a highly contagious disease, and the outbreak has prompted clinics in the affected region to take precautions to keep the virus out of crowded waiting rooms.

The details

Of those infected, 883 were unvaccinated, 19 were partially vaccinated, 26 were fully vaccinated, and 22 had unknown vaccination status. At least 186 people are currently in quarantine after being exposed to the virus, and nine people who are symptomatic are in isolation. In response, the health department will activate its Mobile Health Unit to provide free measles-mumps-rubella and flu shots on March 3.

  • On February 13, South Carolina reported 950 measles cases, including 17 new infections since Tuesday.
  • The outbreak began in October 2025.

The players

Linda Bell

State epidemiologist for South Carolina.

South Carolina Department of Public Health

The state health department that is monitoring and responding to the measles outbreak.

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What they’re saying

“We have had lower day-by-day counts of reported measles cases recently. That is potentially an indication that this could be slowing, but really, it is still too early to tell.”

— Linda Bell, State epidemiologist

What’s next

The health department said the latest end of quarantine for those exposed is March 8.

The takeaway

This outbreak highlights the ongoing challenges in containing highly contagious diseases like measles, especially in regions with lower vaccination rates. Public health officials will continue to monitor the situation closely to determine if the recent decline in new cases signals a turning point in the outbreak.