COLUMBUS, Ga. - Georgia has confirmed 25 measles cases in 2026, two and a half times the 10 cases recorded in all of 2025, after the Georgia Department of Public Health announced three more cases on Oct. 27. All three people live in Macon County, were unvaccinated and had close contact with a case confirmed Oct. 12, according to DPH. The agency's measles page, updated the same day, lists 26 cases as of Oct. 28, so residents may see either figure in coverage.

The Columbus Times reviewed the DPH releases and found no mention of Muscogee County or the Chattahoochee Valley in the recent cluster. Still, health officials say the best protection against the highly contagious virus is vaccination. The new cases are a reminder for local families to check their vaccine records. This report explains what DPH has said, how measles spreads and where Columbus residents can ask about protection.

What DPH Reported

DPH confirmed the three new cases Oct. 27 in Macon County, a central Georgia county. The department said it has notified others who may have been exposed and are at increased risk. A DPH release said, "Vaccination is the best protection against measles."

The cluster traces to a case confirmed Oct. 12, which brought the state total to 22, according to WRDW. That patient had no known travel history but had contact with a confirmed case from Pennsylvania, where an outbreak had surpassed 1,100 cases, WRDW reported. In a separate Oct. 19 release, DPH said a person in its Macon County investigation was infectious while visiting a Longhorn Steakhouse at 100 Hampton Court in Perry on Oct. 7 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The agency advised anyone who was there and lacks immunity to monitor for symptoms through Oct. 28, a window that has now passed.

2026 Tops DPH's Recent Case List

DPH's measles page lists case counts for recent years, which put 2026 in context. This year's total is already above the 18 cases the state recorded in 2019, the highest figure on that list. The comparison covers only the years DPH publishes, so it does not say how 2026 ranks over a longer period.

The year's cases have not all been in one place. DPH confirmed three cases in a metro Atlanta family in May, according to WSB Radio, and its release list also includes cases in Jasper County on Sept. 30 and several additional-case announcements in August and September. The Columbus Times did not find county breakdowns for every case in the DPH material it reviewed.

How Measles Spreads and What to Watch For

Measles spreads through the air and the virus can linger for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space, WRDW reported, citing health officials. Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days, according to DPH. They include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash of small red spots that typically starts on the head or hairline and spreads downward, according to The Current GA.

People are usually contagious from about four days before the rash starts to four days after it appears, according to DPH. That means someone can spread the virus before they know they have it. The agency asks anyone with symptoms to contact a health care provider right away and call ahead before visiting a doctor's office, hospital or clinic.

Who Is Protected

The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for children, the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years, according to DPH. DPH's measles page says one dose provides more than 95% immunity and a second dose raises protection to about 98%. Adults born in 1957 or later need at least one dose unless they have documented vaccination, lab evidence of immunity or a lab-confirmed past infection, according to DPH.

The Current GA also reported that some people vaccinated before 1968 may need an additional dose, because an early, less effective vaccine was used then. Anyone unsure about their status should ask a health care provider, who can review records. DPH also notes that adults can show lab evidence of immunity instead of a vaccine record.

Where Columbus Residents Can Ask

The Columbus Health Department is at 5601 Veterans Parkway, lower level, and can be reached at 833-337-1749, according to the West Central Health District. The district says the clinic offers clinical services such as testing and immunizations. Its website does not list MMR availability, hours for vaccine visits or how to book, so call ahead to ask.

The clinic's office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the district. Pediatricians and primary care offices also provide MMR vaccines, and families should call before arriving if anyone has symptoms. DPH's measles page, at dph.georgia.gov/measles, is updated as new cases are confirmed.