The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed measles in an Atlanta-area resident on Tuesday evening. This is the state’s seven confirmed case this year. Last year, the state reported 10 measles cases total.
An outbreak, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a series of three or more related cases. Neighboring South Carolina’s measles outbreak topped nearly 1,000 confirmed cases by the time it was declared over in April. Most recently, there’s been a spike in reported measles cases in Wisconsin and Iowa, with all eyes still on Pennsylvania as cases hit nearly 300.
All of these states, including Georgia, have a childhood vaccination rate for measles below the target for herd immunity of 95%.
The state Department of Public Health is in charge of contact tracing for the newly reported case. At this time, it has no reported travel history that could have exposed others, the department’s release reads. The infected person is unvaccinated against measles.
The majority of measles cases in the U.S. over the past couple of years have been in children and young adults, ages 5 to 19. A full set of the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella is 98% effective in protecting against disease transmission. While normally given in childhood, it is also often provided as a form of post-exposure prophylaxis as it can ease symptoms and stave off severe infection.
New data stokes fear about disease spread
Data released this month by the CDC gives an updated picture of Georgia’s childhood vaccine uptake.
In the 2025-2026 school year, 89% of Georgia’s kindergarten-age population received routine vaccines, including those protecting against measles, mumps and rubella, tetanus and diphtheria, and hepatitis B.
That’s up about 2% from the previous school year but still below the U.S. average of around 92%.
Meanwhile, the number of kids with paperwork on file that exempts them from certain school vaccine requirements has gone up regularly since 2020. Just over 6,000 exemptions were reported among Georgia kindergartners for the last school year.
Measles spreads through the air, can remain on surfaces for hours and is extremely contagious. Anyone who believe they may have been exposed and has symptoms including a runny nose, fever and the telltale rash of tiny red spots should call their health care provider or local department of public health.
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