A measles case was reported in Metro Atlanta for the first time since 2020 and was confirmed by the Georgia Department of Public Health on Jan. 18.
According to a DPH news release, a case of measles was found in a metro Atlanta resident who wasn’t initially vaccinated against the virus. The individual was exposed to measles while traveling outside the United States.
Measles was last reported in 2020 after being contracted by a Cobb County resident beginning in late 2019.
Measles is an airborne virus that can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can last on surfaces for up to two hours according to the DPH.
Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes that can develop from seven to 14 days after contact with the virus. A rash with “tiny, red spots” will also develop, starting at the head and then eventually spreading to the rest of the body.
This virus can be prevented with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is proven safe and effective by the CDC.
The CDC recommends that the first dose of the MMR vaccine should be received between 12-15 months old and the second dose between 4-6 years old.
According to a USA Today article, there are also confirmed measles cases in Virginia, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania.
Officials in these areas are continuing to identify and notify people who may have been exposed.
To learn more about the measles vaccine, visit the CDC website.
