State health official reports Spartanburg measles outbreak over; car-seat checks show widespread improper installation

Lamar Hodges, community engagement manager at the South Carolina Department of Public Health, briefed the advisory committee on May 6 that the agency declared the Spartanburg measles outbreak formally over on April 27. Hodges said the outbreak involved 997 cases from October 2025 through March, with the last confirmed case on March 15; he added that on May 4 the state reported a separate adult measles case in Saluda County tied to international travel, and that contact and quarantine follow-up continued for affected contacts.

"As of April 27, we declared a formal end of the measles outbreak in the Spartanburg area," Hodges told the committee, and he credited rapid vaccination activity statewide—he cited more than 80,000 MMR vaccinations administered during the outbreak period, a roughly 31% increase over the prior year—as evidence of the public-health response.

Hodges also described child-safety outreach. He said a community car-seat event on April 18 inspected 77 car seats and found only five had been properly installed before the check. "That was impressive because it was within 6 hours; only five car seats were properly installed prior to the inspection," Hodges said, using the statistic to stress the value of inspection events and certified technicians.

Hodges listed upcoming community events where department staff and partners will offer screenings, immunization information and safety resources; he encouraged residents to consult dph.sc.gov for outbreak data and follow-up guidance.

Why it matters: The measles outbreak and subsequent case show how importation and local transmission can re-emerge; the vaccination uptick and quarantine work are central to containment. The car-seat inspection data highlight preventable child-safety gaps in proper installation.

What's next: DPH will continue community events and surveillance; no new policy decisions were recorded by the committee.