The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced Thursday that no new measles cases have been reported since an adult in north Alabama tested positive earlier this week. The individual, an Alabamian adult, contracted the disease during a trip to South America and was present in public locations within the Bailey Cove area of Huntsville, including a Subway and a Publix, between October 3 and 5, according to ADPH officials. Public health authorities are now strongly encouraging vaccination, citing a nationwide increase in measles cases.
Dr. Karen Landers, the chief medical officer for ADPH, stated at an ADPH board meeting Thursday that the department is actively conducting epidemiologic surveillance. "We are continuing to inform the public. We are informing physicians, emergency rooms, urgent cares about surveillance for measles," Dr. Landers said. Filling in for State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, she explained that the public is notified "pretty immediately" after a positive lab report is verified. Dr. Landers emphasized that it is the department's responsibility to protect Alabama citizens and provide information for their health and well-being. The ADPH did not have vaccination records for the positive case.
Measles symptoms typically manifest seven to 14 days after infection and can pose significant risks, especially for infants and young children. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a characteristic rash.
According to guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ADPH, children should receive their first vaccine dose between 12 and 15 months of age, with a second dose administered between four and six years old, prior to school entry. Adults are advised to receive one or two doses depending on individual risk factors, the department stated. Dr. Landers noted that individuals born before 1957 are likely immune due to probable exposure to the disease before the vaccine's development in the mid-1960s. She advised anyone unsure of their vaccination status to consult their doctor, particularly those in high-risk professions like medical clinics or environments with vulnerable patients. Dr. Landers assured the public that the vaccine is safe and effective for most individuals, excluding those who are severely immunocompromised. Alabamians who have received both recommended doses do not require further vaccination, though additional doses are not harmful if an individual's vaccination status is unknown.
The push for vaccination comes amidst a rise in measles cases across the country. As of Friday, the CDC reported 4,080 cases confirmed by 47 states this year. This marks an increase from 2025, which saw 2,289 cases reported across 45 states. Current outbreaks have been identified in Pennsylvania, Utah, Maryland, Delaware, and Wisconsin. While another Alabamian tested positive for measles this year, that individual was out-of-state and did not pose a threat of an outbreak in Alabama. In 2025, Alabama recorded one confirmed case involving an unvaccinated child under five in the northern part of the state, who subsequently recovered. The severity of outbreaks is evident in Pennsylvania, where over 1,200 cases, 225 hospitalizations, and five associated deaths have been reported. Nationally, there were three reported deaths in 2025, with two confirmed by the CDC so far this year.
Dr. Marquisha Jarmon, a Hoover-based pediatrician, highlighted challenges in vaccination adherence, noting some parents in her practice choose not to vaccinate their children or opt for delayed schedules. Dr. Jarmon advises these patients not to visit the clinic if they exhibit rash symptoms, instead utilizing telemedicine. While the measles test, an RT-PCR test, involves a nose or mouth swab according to the CDC, Dr. Landers confirmed that a take-home option is not available, recommending patients be sent to either a private or ADPH laboratory for testing.
Dr. Landers reiterated the critical importance of vaccination. "Continue to remind people to vaccinate. This is a safe, effective vaccine," she urged, acknowledging that while Alabama has historically maintained high vaccination rates, "that’s changing." CDC data for the 2025-26 school year indicates that 94.3% of Alabama kindergarteners are vaccinated against measles, a slight decrease from 95.2% in the 2024-25 school year. This falls below the 95% vaccination rate generally required for herd immunity against the disease, as defined by the CDC. In Pennsylvania, kindergarteners had a 92.7% vaccination rate for the 2025-26 school year.
Dr. Landers, who previously served as a north Alabama pediatrician and infectious control physician, emphasized that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the sole protective measure against measles. She described it as "a generational vaccine" with extensive safe usage over time, noting no studies suggest the vaccine causes side effects. Dr. Landers urged Alabamians to educate themselves, consult with physicians and pharmacists, and recognize the disease's potential for severe and deadly outcomes, stating, "We don’t want to see what happened in Pennsylvania happen in Alabama." Dr. Jane Weida, a Tuscaloosa-based family medicine doctor, specifically recommended that healthcare providers and those in other high-exposure professions ensure they receive at least one dose, and preferably two, if their vaccination status is unknown.
