Reported measles cases in South Carolina surged by almost 30% in the last few days, state health officials said Friday.
The South Carolina health department reported 124 new cases since Tuesday, bringing the state's total to 558 in a wave of infections centered around an outbreak in Spartanburg County.
Since the holidays, South Carolina's measles outbreak has exploded into the worst in the U.S. Measles also have been reported this year in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Utah and Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year was the nation’s worst for the spread of measles since 1991, according to the CDC. The U.S. confirmed 2,144 cases across 44 states. Three people died, all of them unvaccinated.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000, though the country is at risk of losing that achievement.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
FILE - A sign is seen outside a clinic with the South Plains Public Health District, Feb. 23, 2025, in Brownfield, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
FILE - Health department staff members enter the Andrews County Health Department measles clinic carrying doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice, File)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jordan Kyrou scored the only goal in a shootout and the St. Louis Blues beat Tampa Bay 3-2 on Friday night to snap the Lightning's franchise record-tying 11-game winning streak.
Kyrou’s backhand shot beat Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov had a chance to extend the shootout but was stopped by Joel Hofer, who made 34 saves in regulation and overtime before delivering three more in the tiebreaker.
It was the Blues' first win in overtime or a shootout this season. They had been 0-8.
The Blues took 2-0 lead late in the first period with goals just 30 seconds apart.
Jake Neighbors got the first with 2:57 to play in the period and Nick Bjugstad scored when he was left alone in the slot with 2:27 left.
Tampa Bay tied it with a pair of power-play goals 62 seconds apart in the second.
Kucherov scored at 9:59 when the Lightning had a two-man advantage. He then assisted on Oliver Bjorkstrand’s goal 1:02 later. Darren Raddysh assisted on both goals.
Vasilevskiy made 19 saves.
Tampa Bay was trying for a team-record 12th consecutive win. The Lightning had not lost since a 2-1 setback to Los Angeles on Dec. 18. The last time they won 11 in a row was from Jan. 29 to Feb. 17, 2020. They went on to win the Stanley Cup that season.
Lightning: Visit the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Blues: At the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Tampa Bay Lightning's Charle-Edouard D'Astous (51) passes the puck while under pressure from St. Louis Blues' Nathan Walker, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
St. Louis Blues' Alexey Toropchenko (13) watches as Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov (86) handles the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) blocks a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
Tampa Bay Lightning's Anthony Cirelli, left, defends as St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) shoots during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou, left, scores the winning goal past Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, right, in a shootout during an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)
