NASHVILLE CONFIRMS FIRST MEASLES CASE SINCE 2005
The Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) in Nashville has confirmed the city’s first measles case since 2005, involving an unvaccinated individual with recent travel history who is now in isolation.
The highly contagious virus, which spreads through the air and can linger for hours, has a CDC-estimated transmission rate where up to 90% of unvaccinated people near an infected person may contract it. MPHD’s Vaccine Preventable Disease team is actively investigating the source, tracing contacts, and offering testing and post-exposure prophylaxis while urging community cooperation.
The department strongly recommends the highly effective MMR vaccine—97% effective with two doses and 93% with one—and is providing it by appointment or limited walk-ins until 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at its East Nashville, Lentz, and Woodbine clinics.
Nationally, the CDC reports over 1,600 measles cases in 2025, with 92% occurring in individuals not fully vaccinated.
