Investigation Into Measles Case in Alabama
Recent information from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) indicates an ongoing investigation in Lee County related to an individual who isn’t eligible for the measles vaccine yet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises children to receive their first dose of the vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age.
According to a statement released on Sunday, ADPH is working with local healthcare providers to identify other unvaccinated individuals who may require the MMR vaccine. Although the majority of eligible residents in Alabama are vaccinated against measles, the risk of an outbreak is considered low. Still, some people will need to be vaccinated in light of this investigation.
Dr. Karen Landers, the chief medical officer at ADPH, emphasized the vaccine’s safety and its effectiveness in providing lifelong immunity against this potentially harmful disease. She mentioned that it’s crucial for communities to protect themselves by ensuring everyone, who can be vaccinated, receives the shot.
This news surfaces amidst the country’s most significant increase in measles cases in many years. The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. back in 2000; however, the CDC warns that decreasing vaccination rates, particularly among children in school and in areas where coverage is already low, could lead to a resurgence of measles and its serious complications.
As of June 5, the CDC reported 1,168 confirmed cases across 34 jurisdictions, which does not yet include the suspected case from Alabama. Among these cases, 137 individuals were hospitalized, and three died; notably, 95% of those affected were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
In Alabama, there were no reported cases in 2023 or 2024. The last significant outbreak may have occurred in 2002, when an infant returning from the Philippines triggered about a dozen cases in a daycare environment involving other unvaccinated infants. Before that, a notable outbreak in 1989 saw 61 cases.
A report from February 2025 stated by State Health Officer Scott Harris highlighted that measles was once among the leading causes of death in Alabama, citing 41 fatalities in 1953 and 13 in 1964.
The CDC describes measles as “the most highly contagious febrile rash illness,” capable of infecting up to 90% of susceptible close contacts and potentially leading to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has created a webpage dedicated to measles, providing resources for both the public and healthcare professionals. Additionally, the CDC offers an online dashboard that is updated weekly to provide current information.
