Georgia DPH confirms three new measles cases

ATLANTA, Ga. (WTOC) - Three more Georgia residents have contracted measles, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).

In a news release, the DPH said the three new cases are close contacts of a previous case detected in Fulton County from early September.

Two of individuals are unvaccinated, while the vaccination status of the third is unknown. All three are now isolating at home.

The DPH says as of Tuesday, 268 close contacts of the confirmed cases have been identified.

Georgia now has 10 reported measles cases in 2025, four more than the total number of cases in 2024.

The Georgia DPH says the best way to stay protected from measles is to get vaccinated.

What measles symptoms look like

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes.

Then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out that usually starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

Anyone who becomes sick or thinks they may have been exposed to measles should:

• 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.
• If you are not experiencing symptoms, there is no need to go to a doctor’s office, the hospital, or a public health clinic.
• If you need medical care, 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.
• If you think you might have measles, stay at home and avoid contact with other people, especially babies less than 1 year of age or people with weakened immune systems.
• Healthcare providers who suspect measles should notify public health immediately.

Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 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.

For more information about measles, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measlesorhttps://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.