Virginia reports 12 measles cases

The Virginia Department of Health said on May 13 that it had identified 12 outbreak-associated measles cases in Buckingham County and declared an outbreak in the area. The state said none of the patients reported recent travel, and officials said that timing suggested local transmission rather than infections tied to a trip. The announcement marked a shift from an earlier case investigation centered on a school-aged child in the county. State officials said more cases were likely to surface as contact tracing and case finding continued. ### Why did Virginia call this an outbreak instead of a single cluster? The Virginia Department of Health said on May 13 that the cases met its threshold for an outbreak after investigators linked 12 measles infections in Buckingham County. Cardinal News, citing the state health department’s definition, reported that Virginia classifies an outbreak as three or more related cases among non-household members. (vdh.virginia.gov) No patients reported recent travel, according to the state’s clinician alert. That detail matters because Virginia said its other recent measles activity in 2025 and 2026 had been tied to travel or close-contact spread within households, while Buckingham County was confirmed by the state as an outbreak on May 13. ### What do officials say about how the virus is spreading in Buckingham County? (vdh.virginia.gov) Buckingham County is seeing signs of local transmission, the state health department said, because the known patients did not travel and the cases appeared close together in time. The department told clinicians that “there are likely more measles cases than have been reported,” and local and regional outlets said health officials were urging anyone connected to or visiting the county to review vaccination status. (vdh.virginia.gov) A child between ages 5 and 12 was the subject of an earlier public alert issued on May 8, and the Virginia Department of Health said then that the child had been exposed locally. That earlier notice said the agency believed the virus was circulating in the county before the outbreak declaration was issued several days later. (vdh.virginia.gov) ### Who is being told to get vaccinated now? Virginia health officials said the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine remains the best protection against measles and issued outbreak-specific recommendations for people who live in or visit Buckingham County. Infants ages 6 to 11 months are being advised to get an early MMR dose, according to the state’s clinician letter. Children ages 12 months to 18 years who are unvaccinated should begin vaccination, and children who have had only one dose should get a second dose at least 28 days after the first. (cvilletomorrow.org) Adults born after 1957 who have not been vaccinated or never had measles infection should receive at least one MMR dose, the state said. Virginia also said some adults in higher-risk groups — including healthcare workers, international travelers and people attending school beyond high school — should receive two doses spaced at least 28 days apart. (vdh.virginia.gov) ### How long is measles contagious, and what are schools and families watching for? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said measles is one of the most contagious diseases and that infected patients should be isolated for four days after a rash develops. The Virginia Department of Health says a person can spread the virus from about four days before rash onset to about four days after the rash appears, and the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. (vdh.virginia.gov) Virginia says symptoms usually begin with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes before a red blotchy rash appears and spreads. That timeline means schools, clinics and families may be tracking exposures that happened before a case was recognized, based on the state and CDC guidance. ### Where can residents look for the next official update? (cdc.gov) The Virginia Department of Health has posted the Buckingham County outbreak notice on its clinician-letters page and says residents can also use the agency’s measles information page for vaccination guidance and outbreak updates. The state health department said on its measles page, updated this week, that Virginia has seen an increase in measles cases in 2025 and 2026 and that Buckingham County’s outbreak was confirmed on May 13. (vdh.virginia.gov) State officials have not publicly listed a date for the next case-count update in the materials reviewed, but the department has said more cases are likely and that providers should report suspected infections to local health departments. The next public milestones are likely to come through Virginia Department of Health notices and local reporting tied to Buckingham County schools, clinics and exposure investigations. (cdc.gov) (vdh.virginia.gov)