ATLANTA, Ga. () — The fourth confirmed case of measles in Georgia was confirmed Monday.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has reported that an unvaccinated resident in the Greater Atlanta area tested positive for measles. The individual contracted the virus during international travel. DPH is currently identifying anyone who may have been exposed to this person between May 10 and May 18, when they were contagious.

Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after the infected person has left the area.

Symptoms of measles appear 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. This is followed by a rash of tiny red spots, which starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive their first dose of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. 

This is the fourth reported measles case in Georgia in 2025. In 2024, there were six reported cases of measles in Georgia.