153 Unvaccinated Students in Quarantine After Measles Exposure at South Carolina Schools
By
Sara Moniuszko
Health and Wellness Reporter
(https://www.cbsnews.com/team/sara-moniuszko/)
Sara Moniuszko is a health and wellness reporter at CBSNews.com, previously writing for USA Today and helping launch the newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending health news for CBS News' HealthWatch.
Read Full Bio (https://www.cbsnews.com/team/sara-moniuszko/)
October 13, 2025 / 9:56 AM EDT / CBS News
At least 153 unvaccinated students in South Carolina schools have been exposed to measles, leading to a quarantine period, according to local health officials. The students, who were identified as contacts without immunity, are being excluded from school until the period of potential disease transmission has ended.
The affected schools, Spartanburg County's Global Academy and Fairforest Elementary School, are collaborating with the South Carolina Department of Public Health to implement recommended precautionary measures. These measures aim to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
On Thursday, officials confirmed the state's 11th case of measles this year, marking the eighth case since September 25. This outbreak highlights the ongoing issue of unrecognized community transmission of measles in the Upstate region of South Carolina.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health emphasized the importance of public vaccination, stating that the recent case underscores the need for the community to have received their measles vaccinations. In a release, the department warned that measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. They also reiterated that the measles vaccine is the best way to protect oneself and others.
Measles can cause severe infections in the lungs and brain, leading to cognitive issues, deafness, or even death. However, doctors and health officials emphasize that the vaccine is highly safe and effective.
The outbreak in South Carolina is part of a broader trend across the United States. For instance, Minnesota health officials reported two new measles cases this week, bringing the state's total to 20 for the year. The cases involve unvaccinated children who likely contracted the virus from an unvaccinated adult. Moreover, the United States recorded the highest number of measles cases in over 30 years earlier this year, with a significant share of infections linked to an outbreak in West Texas that resulted in the deaths of two children.
Vaccination rates have been a concern, with only about 93% of kindergarteners in the U.S. vaccinated against measles during the 2021-2022 school year, and a slight decline to 92.7% in the 2023-2024 school year. This is below the critical threshold of 95.2% needed for community immunity, as stated by the CDC.
The CDC emphasizes that when more than 95% of the population in a community is vaccinated, most people are protected through community immunity. However, the upstate region of South Carolina has only about 90% immunity, making it vulnerable to the virus spreading.
Edited by Lucia I Suarez Sang (https://www.cbsnews.com/team/lucia-suarez-sang/)
- South Carolina (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/south-carolina/)
- Measles (https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/measles/)
