A confirmed measles case in an unvaccinated metro Atlanta resident with no known travel history is raising concerns about possible community spread just as students at Johns Creek High School, Chattahoochee High School and Northview High School settle into the new school year.
The Georgia Department of Public Health announced the case Monday, Aug. 17. It is the seventh confirmed measles case in Georgia in 2026, up from 10 cases in 2025. Investigators have not identified how the individual was exposed, and DPH is working to trace anyone who had contact with the patient while infectious.
No specific exposure sites have been named.
Authorities have not said whether the infected person lives in Fulton County or elsewhere in the metro area.
What Johns Creek families should know
Georgia law requires two doses of measles vaccine for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Fulton County Schools requires immunization records on Georgia Form 3231, or a notarized waiver for medical or religious exemption. School officials may allow a child without a valid certificate to attend for no more than 90 calendar days after the first day of attendance.
If the Department of Public Health or the Fulton County Board of Health determines an epidemic threat exists, state rules allow officials to bar unimmunized children from attending school.
Vaccination rates below herd-immunity threshold
Georgia's kindergarten vaccination rate stood at roughly 89% during the 2025-26 school year, according to CDC data reported by Atlanta News First. That falls short of the approximately 95% rate needed to maintain community protection against measles. The state's kindergarten vaccine exemption rate was 5.1%, with medical exemptions accounting for just 0.1%.
"We're bordering South Carolina, which has had 600 cases this year of measles," Adam Kraus, director of pediatrics at Mercy Care, told Atlanta News First. "Very few people need to pass on the vaccine in order to cause outbreaks."
Where to get vaccinated
The Fulton County Board of Health's nearest immunization clinic to Johns Creek is the Health and Human Services – North location at 4700 North Point Parkway in Alpharetta. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is (770) 520-7500.
The CDC recommends children receive their first MMR dose between 12 and 15 months and a second dose between ages 4 and 6. More than 95% of people who receive a single dose develop immunity; a second dose boosts protection to about 98%.
Anyone who develops symptoms should call a healthcare provider before visiting any office or clinic. The Georgia DPH Acute Disease Epidemiology Section can be reached at 404-657-2588 during business hours or 1-866-782-4584 on evenings and weekends.
