Three New Measles Cases in Georgia Linked to Single Patient

Georgia health officials have confirmed three new measles cases, all traced back to a single patient who visited several public places earlier this month. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) says the initial case has now sparked a growing outbreak in metro Atlanta.

According to DPH, the first patient was present at Georgia State University on Sept. 2 and 4, visited the Sweetgreen restaurant on North Avenue on Sept. 3, 6, and 8, and participated in Inter Atlanta FC soccer events on Sept. 3, 6, and 7. Officials say those exposures directly led to the three newly confirmed cases.

Medical experts are warning residents about just how easily measles spreads.

“It’s about 90% contagious for someone who has not been vaccinated,” said Dr. Andrew Thornton of WellStar Urgent Care.

Dr. Jodie Guest, an epidemiologist at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, noted that vaccine hesitancy remains a significant concern but stressed that the measles vaccine is both safe and effective.

“It’s never too late to get a vaccine for the measles because that’s your best form of protection,” Guest said.

Parents like Alice Burns of Decatur say they view vaccination as an act of community responsibility. She shared that her two-year-old son, Walter, received the vaccine as soon as he was eligible.

“We want to make sure he stays safe, and we want to make sure kids who can’t get it stay safe too,” Burns said.

The Georgia Department of Public Health continues to monitor the outbreak and notify those who may have been exposed, though officials are limited in what they can disclose due to federal HIPAA laws.

Health experts urge anyone who is unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status to contact their doctor immediately.