Upstate measles outbreak: Comprehensive analysis of regional immunity gaps
Updated Data: March 23, 2026
Analysis of localized immunity gaps
School-level vaccination status: Spartanburg County
Localized data helps us offer even better guidance to families. The table below highlights the specific areas where unvaccinated student populations are most concentrated.
| School Name | Up-to-Date Rate | Total Students | Unvaxed Count | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Academy of SC | 21.3% | 607 | 478 | Spartanburg |
| Libertas Academy - Boiling Springs | 74.3% | 822 | 211 | Boiling Springs |
| Carlisle Foster’s Grove Elementary | 75.0% | 513 | 128 | Chesnee |
| Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary | 77.1% | 314 | 72 | Chesnee |
| Sugar Ridge Elementary | 77.5% | 890 | 200 | Boiling Springs |
| Inman Elementary | 78.9% | 456 | 96 | Inman |
| Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary | 79.7% | 482 | 98 | Campobello |
| Campobello-Gramling Elementary | 80.2% | 797 | 158 | Campobello |
| Boiling Springs Elementary | 80.4% | 852 | 167 | Boiling Springs |
| Fairforest Elementary | 82.5% | 839 | 147 | Spartanburg |
| Roebuck Elementary | 83.7% | 873 | 142 | Roebuck |
| Lyman Elementary | 88.6% | 693 | 79 | Lyman |
| Mayo Elementary | 89.5% | 314 | 33 | Mayo |
Note: Only a subset of primary schools are shown. Vaccination coverage of 95% is needed to stop the spread.
Outbreak Progression Timeline
Guard Up: One new case reported. Dr. Bell emphasizes that 42 days (two incubation cycles) without a case are required to declare the outbreak over. Concerns remain high regarding spring break social activity.
Geographic data shows the vast majority (993) of cases are in Spartanburg County, with 36 in Greenville. Scattered cases confirmed in Anderson, Pickens, Cherokee, Lancaster, and Sumter counties.
Fiscal Impact: Response costs reach $1.6 million. Demographics show 90% of cases are children/teens, and 93% of all infected individuals were entirely unvaccinated.
Vaccination Surge: Spartanburg County saw a 133% increase in MMR uptake in February compared to the previous year. This "wall of immunity" is credited with the current slowdown.
Downward trend continues. However, Sugar Ridge Elementary faces its third round of quarantines, highlighting the persistence of the virus in schools with low vax rates (78%).
Religious and Educational Exposure: New exposure sites identified at Slavic and Baptist churches in Spartanburg, plus Spartanburg Community College.
Cases found in Lancaster and Sumter with no known source, confirming unrecognized community transmission is still active despite the lower daily counts.
South Carolina surpasses the 2025 Texas outbreak as one of the largest modern measles events in the US.
Outbreak Declared: DPH confirms initial community spread in Spartanburg County.