With a measles case in Georgia, here’s what you should know
ATLANTA, Ga. - With the Georgia Department of Public Health confirming a measles case in an unvaccinated Georgia resident, what do you need to know about the virus?
The Atlanta resident caught the virus while traveling within the United States, and officials are working to trace their s.
DPH says measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Measles virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room.
Measles symptoms appear seven to 14 days after with the virus, typically including high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Then, a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out. It starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.
The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can prevent measles and rubella, according to DPH. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years old.
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More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses, according to DPH.
They say a second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.
MORE INFORMATION
Measles: A serious and dangerous disease
- Symptoms: High fever (may spike to more than 104), cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and rash.
- Complications: Ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis.
- How it spreads: Through the air. You can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been in the past two hours.
DPH says people with symptoms of measles should their health care provider immediately. They say you should not go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or a public health clinic without first calling to let them know about your symptoms.
Health care providers who suspect measles in a patient should notify public health immediately.
This is the first reported measles case in Georgia in 2025. In 2024, there were six.
You can find more information about measles on DPH’s website and the Centers for Disease Control.
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