Kathleen Toomey Commissioner | Georgia Department of Public Health
Kathleen Toomey Commissioner | Georgia Department of Public Health
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed two new measles cases in unvaccinated residents of metro Atlanta. These individuals are family members of a previously reported case from January.
Health officials have reached out to those who may have been exposed to the virus through contact with the infected individuals. Exposed persons have received vaccines or antibodies to mitigate the risk of developing measles and are being monitored for symptoms. Currently, no additional cases outside the family have been identified.
The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC advises that children receive their first dose between 12-15 months and a second dose between 4-6 years old. A single dose provides immunity to over 95% of recipients, while a second dose increases protection to about 98%.
For further information on measles, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles or https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.
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