Trending Now - Unvaccinated Infants Vulnerable to Measles Outbreaks
WHO:
ABC News - John Otwell, a parent concerned about measles exposure.
ABC News - Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a pediatrician in Columbia, South Carolina.
ABC News - Dr. Jessica Early, a pediatrician in Greer, South Carolina.
ABC News - Thomas Compton, regional director of Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center.
ABC News - Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known anti-vaccine advocate.
ABC News - Dr. Martha Edwards, president of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
ABC News - Helen Kaiser, a resident in the outbreak area.
WHAT:
Fox 13 News Utah - Utah has reported more than 121 measles cases in the last three weeks, making it the most active outbreak in the U.S.
Fox 13 News Utah - A total of 583 confirmed measles cases have been reported in Utah since the outbreak began last year, with 386 diagnosed in 2026 and 197 in 2025.
Fox 13 News Utah - Utah has seen 24 new measles cases in the last five days, while South Carolina has not reported any new cases since March 17th.
ABC News - South Carolina's measles outbreak has reached approximately 1,000 cases, the largest in the U.S. in over 35 years.
ABC News - 253 of the 997 measles cases reported were among children aged 4 and younger.
ABC News - In the first three months of 2026, the U.S. recorded 1,671 measles cases, which is 73% of the total cases from 2025.
ABC News - National MMR vaccination rates dropped to 92.5% among kindergartners in the 2024-25 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019-20.
ABC News - Approximately 4% of school-age students in South Carolina have nonmedical vaccine exemptions for the 2025-26 school year.
WHERE:
Fox 13 News Utah - Utah is now identified as the "epicenter" of the U.S. measles outbreaks according to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
ABC News - The outbreak is centered in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
ABC News - Miss Tammy’s Little Learning Center operates across the outbreak region in South Carolina.
WHEN:
ABC News - The measles outbreak in South Carolina began in 2026.
ABC News - A state bill introduced in 2026 would prohibit requiring vaccines for children under 2 years old.
ABC News - The investigation into anti-vaccine legislation linked to Trump administration officials was reported in late October 2022.
WHY:
ABC News - The decline in vaccination rates has eroded herd immunity, which requires at least 95% of a community to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks.
ABC News - Some policymakers view vaccination as an issue of individual freedom and parental rights rather than public health.
HOW:
Fox 13 News Utah - Approximately 485 individuals diagnosed with measles in Utah were not vaccinated, while 59 were vaccinated, and 39 have an unknown vaccination status.
ABC News - Doctors began offering an approved infant MMR dose as early as 6 months old in response to the outbreak.
ABC News - Licensed daycares in South Carolina are required to mandate vaccines, but families can obtain religious exemptions easily.
(UPDATED April 10, 2026 23:12 UTC)
Utah has become the epicenter of measles outbreaks in the U.S., reporting more than 121 cases in the last three weeks alone. Since the outbreak began last year, the state has confirmed a total of 583 cases, with 386 diagnosed in 2026 and 197 in 2025, while 24 new cases were identified in the past five days. Of those diagnosed, approximately 485 individuals were not vaccinated, 59 were vaccinated, and 39 have an unknown vaccination status.
--
(UPDATED April 10, 2026 19:19 UTC)
South Carolina is currently facing a significant measles outbreak, with approximately 1,000 cases reported, marking the largest outbreak in the U.S. in over 35 years. The outbreak, concentrated in Spartanburg County, has particularly affected young children, with 253 cases among those aged 4 and under, and is linked to a decline in vaccination rates, which have dropped to 92.5% among kindergartners. In response to the situation, doctors are now offering an approved infant MMR dose as early as 6 months old, while licensed daycares are required to mandate vaccines, although families can still easily obtain religious exemptions.