Local Impact Spotlight:
- Measles symptoms appear 4 to 21 days, typically 7 to 14; begin with high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, followed by rash.
- MMR vaccine is safe and effective; first dose at 12 to 15 months, second dose at 4 to 6 years; consult your physician.
- If exposed or ill, contact your healthcare provider immediately and call DPH at 404-657-2588 or 1-866-PUB-HLTH if you have no doctor.
- Do not visit clinics or hospitals without calling first; stay home and avoid contact with babies less than 1 year and immunocompromised people.
The following press release was issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health on September 4, 2026:
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed three additional measles cases associated with the measles case confirmed August 18, for a total of 8 cases associated with the current outbreak. This outbreak is associated with a daycare setting in the metro Atlanta area; the children were either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. DPH is working to notify individuals who may have been exposed to the virus and are at an increased risk of developing measles.
Measles symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, but may range from 4 to 21 days. Symptoms usually start with high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Then a rash of tiny red spots breaks out, usually starting at the head and spreading to the rest of the body.
The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can prevent measles and rubella. The vaccine is safe and effective, and parents with questions about the vaccine or the vaccination schedule can consult their physician. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.
Anyone who becomes sick or thinks they may have been exposed to measles should follow this guidance:
- Contact your healthcare provider immediately and let them know that you may have been exposed to measles. If you do not have a doctor, please call the DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section at 404-657-2588 during business hours, Monday through Friday, or 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584) after hours on evenings and weekends.
- DO NOT go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or a public health clinic without FIRST calling to let them know about your possible contact with measles. Your healthcare provider or public health nurse will advise you on what to do.
- Stay at home and avoid contact with other people, especially babies less than 1 year of age or people with weakened immune systems.
DPH urges healthcare providers to maintain heightened awareness of measles. If you suspect measles in a patient, notify public health immediately by calling 866-PUB-HLTH (866-782-4584).
Including these additional cases, there have been 14 measles cases in Georgia in 2026. There were 10 confirmed measles cases in Georgia in 2025.
For more information about measles, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles or
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.
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