Buckingham County 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 central Virginia locality. The agency said none of the patients reported recent travel, and that the timing of the cases suggested local transmission. State officials had warned five days earlier that the virus was likely circulating in the Buckingham County area after confirming a case in a school-age child who had not traveled. Virginia’s measles page said the state had recorded 35 cases statewide as of May 13, with 13 in the Central Region. ### How did officials determine this was an outbreak? Virginia’s measles page says an outbreak is defined as three or more related cases among non-household members. On May 13, the department said Buckingham County had reached 12 outbreak-associated cases, clearing that threshold. The May 13 clinician letter said the lack of recent travel among patients pointed away from a single imported exposure and toward spread within the area. The agency also said there were likely more cases than had been reported. ### What did Virginia know before the case count reached 12? A May 8 Virginia Department of Health release said the first publicly identified patient in the cluster was a school-age child, ages 5 to 12, in the Central Region. (vdh.virginia.gov) The agency said that child had not traveled and had been exposed locally. (vdh.virginia.gov) That May 8 notice said health officials already had reason to suspect the measles virus was circulating in the Buckingham County area. The department urged residents to check their measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccination status, watch for symptoms and stay home if sick. (vdh.virginia.gov) ### Why are clinicians being told to watch for red or watery eyes? Virginia’s provider guidance says clinicians should suspect measles in a patient with fever, a generalized rash lasting at least three days, and cough, coryza or conjunctivitis. The public-facing measles page also lists cough, runny nose, rash and sometimes red, itchy eyes among symptoms. (vdh.virginia.gov) The provider page says suspected cases should be reported immediately to the local health department and that clinicians should not wait for the next business day or for lab confirmation before discussing testing, infection control and prevention steps. Patients are considered infectious from four days before through four days after rash appearance, according to the same guidance. (vdh.virginia.gov) ### Who is being told to get vaccinated now? The May 13 clinician letter said infants ages 6 to 11 months in or visiting the Buckingham County area are advised to get an early MMR dose during the outbreak. The letter said children 12 months to 18 years old who have not been vaccinated should begin the series, and children who have had one dose should get a second at least 28 days later. (vdh.virginia.gov) The May 8 public notice said adults born after 1957 who have not been vaccinated or never had measles infection should receive at least one dose, while some adults with only one prior dose should discuss a second dose with a healthcare provider. Buckingham County residents can call the Piedmont Health Department at 434-969-4244 to schedule a vaccination appointment, the agency said. (vdh.virginia.gov) ### How large is Virginia’s measles picture beyond Buckingham County? Virginia’s measles dashboard said the state had logged 35 cases as of May 13, including 13 in the Central Region, 9 in the Northern Region, 6 in the Northwest Region, 6 in the Southwest Region and 1 in the Eastern Region. The same page said Virginia reported five measles cases in all of 2025. (vdh.virginia.gov) The Virginia Department of Health said its case tables are updated on Tuesdays and Fridays around noon. The agency’s measles response pages for exposure sites, case data and provider guidance remain the next public checkpoints for any increase beyond the 12 Buckingham County cases announced on May 13. (vdh.virginia.gov)