South Carolina’s measles outbreak is over after sickening 997 people

South Carolina’s measles outbreak — the worst in the U.S. in more than 35 years — is over, state health o_cials declared Monday.

On Sunday, the state passed the threshold of 42 days with no new outbreak-related cases. In the end, 997 people were sickened by the vaccinepreventable disease since October and at least 21 of them were hospitalized, based on voluntary reports to the state. State health o_cials estimate the outbreak response cost $2.1 million.

“The outbreak was predominantly contained to one area of one county and never went statewide, thanks to timely investigations, identification of those exposed, and people’s willingness to stay home,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health.