JASPER COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed on Wednesday five cases of measles among siblings in a family.
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The Jasper County residents were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated, and at least one sibling had a history of out-of-state travel.
The new cases bring Georgia’s total to 21 confirmed measles cases in 2026, compared to 10 confirmed cases in the state in 2025.
According to public health officials, the Jasper County cases are unrelated to an earlier outbreak in Cobb County and contact tracing efforts are underway to identify individuals who may have been exposed.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person has left a room.
Symptoms typically appear between seven and 14 days after exposure, though the incubation period can extend up to 21 days. Initial symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by a rash of tiny red spots that starts on the head and spreads to the rest of the body.
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Health officials emphasize that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provides strong protection against the virus. More than 95% of people who receive a single dose of the MMR vaccine develop immunity and a second dose increases protection to approximately 98%. T
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children receive their first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. For infants ages 6 to 11 months traveling internationally, the CDC recommends a single dose before travel, followed by the standard two-dose series after their first birthday.
Public health officials advise anyone experiencing measles symptoms to call a health care provider before visiting a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital to prevent spreading the virus. Health care providers who suspect measles in a patient are required to notify public health officials immediately.
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