CDC staffers deployed to South Carolina to aid measles response

CDC staffers deployed to South Carolina to aid measles response 

With nearly 1,000 confirmed measles cases as of this week, staffers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are going to South Carolina to help the state in its outbreak response. 

© Julio Cortez, The Associated Press

South Carolina’s State Epidemiologist Linda Bell said in a press briefing on Wednesday that 990 cases have been confirmed in the state so far, with 95 percent of them occurring in unvaccinated individuals and the vast majority found in Spartanburg County. 

“We have approval for a team of CDC staffers to come and assist us in analyzing data that’s been collected during the outbreak,” Bell said, adding that they are expecting three service officers to arrive next week.  

She noted that vaccine uptake rose last month but added there are concerns of another surge in cases during spring break as was seen during the winter holiday season. 

“We saw another strong increase in measles vaccination uptake during the month of February, which is encouraging. Compared to February of 2025, there was a 133 percent increase in measles vaccination in Spartanburg County with around 900 additional doses given,” said Bell. 

The CDC staffers are expected to be in the state for roughly two weeks. 

Last month, it was reported that South Carolina had requested assistance from the CDC Foundation, an independent entity separate from the CDC created by Congress to support the agency. 

Bell clarified on Wednesday that the support provided by the CDC is different from what was requested from the foundation. According to Bell, the support from the foundation focused on long-term day-to-day work while the assistance coming from the CDC staffers will focus on analyzing data compiled from the previous 22 weeks of the outbreak. 

According to the CDC, there have been 1,136 confirmed measles cases and 10 new outbreaks in 2026 so far, following what was the worst year for measles in the U.S. in decades.

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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

RFK Jr. puts Dunkin’ on notice; Massachusetts governor says ‘come and take it’

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said Dunkin’ and other companies will need to prove that their ingredients are safe, prompting Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) on Wednesday to reply back, “Come and take it.” Kennedy, while at a rally at Brazos Hall last week in Austin, Texas, said, “We’re going to ask Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, ‘Show us the …

FDA sends warning to 30 telehealth companies selling ‘illegal’ GLP-1s

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday sent 30 telehealth companies warning letters about their “illegal” sales of compounded GLP-1s, building off increasing pressure to tamp down on the sale of these unapproved medications. According to the FDA, the companies they contacted made “false or misleading claims” about the GLP-1 products they sold on their websites, including implying “sameness …

Colorectal cancer demographics shift toward younger Americans: Research

The rate of colorectal cancer is increasing among younger Americans and is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in adults under the age of 50, according to research published by the American Cancer Society on Monday. Researchers found that 45 percent of new colorectal cancer diagnoses are occurring in individuals younger than 65, a 27 percent increase from 1995. Meanwhile, rates among older adults have declined over the past …

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Noem’s spending review has held up more than 1,000 FEMA contracts, grants and awards, Dems say

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s policy of personally reviewing expenditures of more than $100,000 has held up more than 1,000 contracts, grants and awards at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to a new report from Senate Democrats.The report says that as of Sept. 8, Noem’s policy had delayed approval of or left approval pending for 1,034 contracts, grants or disaster assistance awards. It cites an internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tracker that it says was created in response to the policy and was provided to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by whistleblowers.

Local and state headlines on health care:

Unvaccinated students, staff at Broomfield High School sent home for 21 days to prevent measles outbreak (Colorado Public Radio) 

A health care executive is running for Georgia governor. His company has had about $1B in state contracts (Georgia Public Broadcasting) 

New York AG demands NYU Langone resume transgender youth health program (Spectrum News) 

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Lawmakers, health groups resist their states’ rural health fund plans (KFF Health News) 

RFK Jr. has wide discretion to choose evidence to support vaccine decisions, DOJ argues (Stat) 

Flu was again worse than covid this winter. Is that pattern here to stay? (The Washington Post) 

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

The new SNAP food restrictions aren’t just confusing — they’re illegal

End-stage disease shouldn’t be the entry to care

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