Measles outbreak linked to Atlanta area daycare grows to at least 12 cases

A measles outbreak linked to a metro Atlanta daycare has grown to eight confirmed cases as of September 4, 2026. The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that the infected children were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated close contacts of a case confirmed on August 18, 2026. This outbreak has pushed Georgia's 2026 total to 17 cases, surpassing the 10 cases recorded in all of 2025. Nationally, the CDC reports a major surge with over 3,000 cases, threatening the country's measles elimination status.

Atlanta daycare measles outbreak

• ▪The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the measles cases in the Atlanta daycare outbreak were close contacts of an initial case confirmed on August 18, 2026
• ▪The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed that a measles outbreak associated with a metro Atlanta daycare grew to eight cases as of September 4, 2026

Measles vaccination gaps in children

• ▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children receive their first MMR vaccine dose between 12 and 15 months of age, and their second dose between 4 and 6 years of age
• ▪The children involved in the metro Atlanta daycare measles outbreak were either unvaccinated or had not received their second dose of the MMR vaccine

Georgia measles case trends

• ▪The 2026 measles case count in Georgia has surpassed the 10 total cases recorded in the state during the entirety of 2025
• ▪A total of 17 measles cases have been confirmed in Georgia in 2026, including 14 cases reported by the CDC as of September 3, 2026, and three additional daycare-linked cases

National measles case surge

• ▪The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced in late August 2026 that two unvaccinated individuals died from measles, marking the state's first measles-related deaths in decades
• ▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 3,000 confirmed measles cases and 38 outbreaks nationally as of September 4, 2026

Measles virus transmission methods

• ▪The measles virus is highly contagious, spreading through the air via coughs or sneezes and remaining active on surfaces for up to two hours
• ▪Health officials state that settings like daycares and schools serve as highly effective environments for the transmission and outbreak of the measles virus

Measles symptoms in patients

• ▪According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a patient's fever can spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit when the characteristic measles rash begins to appear
• ▪Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure, beginning with a fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a body rash