Unvaccinated Fulton Resident May Have Spread Measles, Officials Say

ATLANTA, GA — An unvaccinated Fulton County resident has contracted the measles and may have spread the virus to others, the Georgia Department of Public Health said Friday.

The resident has not traveled internationally and is out of the infectious stage. However, public health officials said the person may have exposed others between Sept. 2 and Thursday.

Exposures may have occurred at the following locations and times:

• Sept. 2 and 4: Georgia State University
  • Aderhold Learning Building between 7:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
  • Langdale Hall between 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
• Sweetgreen Restaurant on North Avenue
  • Sept. 3 between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 6 between 2:30 pm and 10 p.m.
  • Sept. 8 between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Possible exposure may have additionally occurred on Sept. 3, 6 and 7; but, those who were potentially exposed have been contacted, the DPH said. There was a minimal infection risk due to the practices and games being held outdoors, officials said.

"DPH is working with the Fulton County Board of Health, GSU, Inter Atlanta FC and Sweetgreen to notify individuals who may have been exposed to the virus and are at an increased risk of developing measles. DPH urges health care providers to maintain heightened awareness for patients with measles," public health officials said in a news release.

The measles virus can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can linger in the air for up to two hours after the infected person has left the room, the DPH said.

Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

Symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after a person has developed the measles, but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure, health officials said. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears, until four days after the rash begins.

People are generally considered immune to measles if they have had two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles or laboratory evidence of immunity or infection, or were born in the United States before 1957. Those who are most at risk of complications from measles infection are pregnant women, infants less than one year old, and those who are immune compromised.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that children receive their first dose of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine between 12 and 15 months old and a second dose between 4 and 6 years old.

The DPH said at least 95 percent of the people who receive a single dose of MMR will have immunity to all three viruses. A second dose helps to enhance immunity to 98 percent, the DPH said.

Anyone who has symptoms of the measles should call their health care provider, the DPH said.

People, especially those not vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure, health officials said.