Health officials are on high alert after Georgia confirmed its fourth measles case of 2025. An unvaccinated Atlanta-area resident who recently returned from international travel has tested positive, prompting urgent efforts to trace potential exposures.
DPH Tracks Exposure Window as Risk Period Confirmed
The Georgia Department of Public Health said the individual was infectious between May 10 and May 18. They’re now racing to contact people who may have crossed paths with them during that stretch. This could include passengers at airports, people in public venues, even neighbors.
No details have been released yet about where the patient traveled or where they may have been while contagious. But authorities warned the measles virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after a carrier leaves. That makes tracking exposures extra difficult.
“We’re working quickly and methodically to notify those who may have been exposed,” a DPH spokesperson said in a statement Monday evening.
The Measles Comeback: A Virus We Thought We Had Beat
For many, measles sounds like something from their grandparents’ time. But it’s making a comeback, and public health officials say lower vaccination rates are to blame. In the U.S., measles was declared eliminated in 2000. But in recent years, international travel and vaccine hesitancy have cracked that shield.
This year, Georgia has already matched two-thirds of last year’s total case count — and we’re barely halfway through May. In 2024, there were six confirmed cases statewide.
So far in 2025:
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4 measles cases confirmed
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All linked to unvaccinated individuals
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1 case involved international travel
And nationally, the CDC has tracked over 100 confirmed cases this year — nearly triple what was reported by this time in 2023.
What You Need to Know About Measles
Measles spreads like wildfire — seriously. Just being in the same room with an infected person can be enough. The virus doesn’t care if they’re already gone. It sticks around for up to two hours.
Symptoms start mild: fever, cough, and runny nose. But they ramp up fast. Watery eyes, a high fever, and that tell-tale rash — red, itchy, spreading from your head down — usually show up 7 to 14 days after exposure.
Here’s a quick refresher on what to look for:
| Symptom | When It Appears | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High Fever | Day 1–3 | Can spike to over 104°F |
| Cough & Runny Nose | Day 1–3 | May seem like a cold at first |
| Watery Eyes | Day 2–4 | Often with light sensitivity |
| Rash | Day 4–6 | Starts at head, spreads downwards |
Infected folks are contagious from four days before the rash starts to four days after it appears. That’s a huge window — and makes tracking exposures tricky.
Who’s at Risk? Hint: It’s Not Just Kids
It’s easy to assume this is just a children’s disease. It’s not. Adults born after 1957 who never got both doses of the MMR vaccine are also vulnerable.
The CDC recommends two doses:
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First shot at 12–15 months old
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Second between 4–6 years old
But here’s the problem: some adults either missed one or both shots or can’t remember if they got them. And for people with compromised immune systems or babies under 1, the stakes are even higher.
Dr. Tasha Simmons, a pediatrician in Decatur, put it bluntly: “One case in a community with low immunity can lead to dozens within weeks.”
Vaccine Rates Raise Red Flags in Some Georgia Counties
Vaccination coverage is generally solid across Georgia — but there are pockets where rates are lower. That’s where outbreaks can start, and officials know it.
One health district in northern Georgia reported MMR coverage among kindergartners as low as 87% last year. That’s below the CDC’s 95% benchmark for herd immunity.
Health departments are using local schools and social media to spread the word. They’ve even launched mobile vaccine clinics in some areas to catch folks who may have missed their second dose.
Still, the numbers show a trend that’s hard to ignore:
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Georgia’s MMR vaccination rate (2024): 91.3%
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CDC herd immunity threshold: 95%
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Unvaccinated individuals in 2025 cases: 100%
Communities Brace as Summer Travel Looms
Timing couldn’t be worse. Summer is around the corner. Families are gearing up for vacations, international trips, theme parks, crowded airports. And with that comes more chances for exposure.
Public health workers are urging people to check their vaccine records before heading abroad or to busy places. They’ve also stepped up screening at international arrivals in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
One local clinic in Gwinnett County said calls tripled Monday afternoon after the case was announced. “People are nervous,” said a nurse who asked not to be named. “A lot of parents are suddenly realizing they don’t remember if their teenager got that second MMR shot.”
It’s the small stuff — forgotten booster appointments, skipped pediatric visits — that start to pile up.
