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

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 28/10/2026, 14:43:25 UTC.

Briefings

A measles outbreak in South Carolina expanded to Washington state via five importation events between January 2026 and April 2026, resulting in 26 cases before containment. The outbreak began October 2, 2025, and ended April 26, 2026, with 997 confirmed cases in South Carolina. Washington state officials highlighted domestic travel risks as the primary driver, noting that vaccination rates have declined nationwide. Pennsylvania's ongoing outbreak has since surpassed South Carolina's total cases.

Key points

• Washington state health officials identified five distinct importation events as the primary route for the South Carolina measles outbreak to spread to Washington state.
• The outbreak resulted in 26 cases among Washington state residents before containment efforts were fully implemented.

Context

Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, with cases mainly from international travelers or unvaccinated domestic residents. Recent vaccination rate declines increased domestic travel risks, making it the primary transmission route for the South Carolina outbreak.

Limitations

Evidence covers only the South Carolina outbreak and its spread to Washington state; it does not include data on Pennsylvania's ongoing outbreak or other states. The study is a NEJM Evidence preprint, and the outbreak timeline spans from October 2025 to April 2026, limiting longitudinal data availability.

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