ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated Greater Atlanta resident who contracted the virus during international travel. The individual was infectious from May 10 through May 18, and DPH officials are actively working to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed during that period.
Measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area. Symptoms typically emerge 7 to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by a red, spotty rash that begins on the head and spreads downward.
Health authorities remind the public that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is both safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends administering the first dose of MMR between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. A single dose confers immunity in more than 95 percent of recipients, while a second dose raises that protection to approximately 98 percent.
Residents who develop measles-like symptoms are urged to contact their healthcare provider by phone before visiting any medical facility. Providers who suspect a case of measles must immediately notify public health authorities to assist with contact tracing and containment efforts.
This is Georgia’s fourth confirmed measles case in 2025; six cases were reported statewide in 2024.
For more information about measles, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health or CDC online.
