The child’s cheek shows the characteristic rash associated with measles.

A child’s cheek shows the characteristic rash associated with measles.

Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed a measles case from an unvaccinated Bryan County resident. That marks the second reported measles case in Georgia so far this year.

In 2025, there were 10 confirmed measles cases in Georgia.

According to the state department, the individual recently traveled out of state.

DPH warns the virus is "highly contagious" and can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

"The measles virus can stay in the air or on surface for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room," DPH wrote in a press release.

Symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after expose which include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. A rash of tiny red spots then appear on the skin, starting from the head and spreading to the rest of the body.

DPH advises that those with measles symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider but should not go to a doctor's office, hospital, or public health clinic without first calling providers to let them know about your symptoms.

The department advises that the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that helps prevent measles and rubella.

"More than 95% of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three virus," the department wrote. "A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%."

For more information on measles, read here.

Tags: Georgia  Bryan County  health  Georgia Department of Public Health  measles  measles outbreak  measles vaccine  MMR vaccine  GPB News 
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