Neighboring states log measles cases

The U.S. has already logged 982 measles cases just two months into the year — more than 40% of the total cases in 2025. A majority of those cases come from outbreaks that started last year. There have been 56 outbreaks across the nation since the beginning of 2025, with seven of those starting in 2026. While Tennessee hasn't had any confirmed cases so far this year, several neighboring states have. The confirmed cases as of Feb. 19 are as follows, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: North Carolina: 17 Virginia: 9 Kentucky: 4 Georgia: 1 Nearby South Carolina is in the midst of the largest measles outbreak in the nation since the disease was considered eliminated in 2000, according to health care news site Becker's Hospital Review. The state has 632 cases this year, nearly doubling the number of cases it had in all of 2025. Tennessee has had eight confirmed cases since the beginning of 2025, with one hospitalization. Cases mostly occurred in the mid- and upper-Cumberland region of the state, with one in the Nashville-Davidson County area. Seven of the people infected were unvaccinated, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. The vaccination status of one person was unknown. Half of them were in the age range of 5 to 17 years old and the rest were 18 and older. The state health department recommends the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine as the best way to stay protected against the contagious disease. The advice is in line with decades of research and national campaigns that prove the vaccine as safe and effective. When more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, the majority are protected through herd immunity. In recent years, national vaccination rates in kindergartners have slipped nearly three percentage points below that level. The estimated vaccination rate for the 2024-25 school year in Tennessee is 94.4%. Student vaccination rates in Washington, Sullivan, Carter and Johnson counties were all below 95% for the 2024 school year, according to a data investigation from NBC News and Stanford University. Johnson County ranks as one of the worst vaccinated counties in the state with just 88.4% of students vaccinated that year. Symptoms and more information Measles symptoms usually start a week or two after infection. They include: Red, blotchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads Watery eyes High fever Dry cough Runny nose The disease is highly contagious and can have serious health consequences. It usually affects babies and young children. The Tennessee Department of Health instructs people exposed to measles or with symptoms to isolate at home and call their health care provider. More information about the disease can be found at https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/reportable-diseases/measles-rubeola.html.