Virginia County Measles Outbreak Climbs to Nearly 90 Cases

State health officials are urging the unvaccinated and anyone showing symptoms to stay away from large gatherings as the outbreak continues to spread.

A measles outbreak in a Virginia county has grown to nearly 90 confirmed cases.
State health officials are calling on unvaccinated residents to avoid large gatherings immediately.
Anyone experiencing symptoms consistent with measles is also being told to stay home.
Measles is among the most contagious infectious diseases and can cause serious complications.
Officials have not yet announced a containment timeline or identified a single exposure site.

A measles outbreak in a Virginia county has reached nearly 90 cases, state health officials confirmed, prompting an urgent public advisory to limit further spread.

Officials are asking anyone who is not vaccinated against measles, as well as anyone who may already be sick, to avoid large gatherings until the outbreak is brought under control.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but cases have resurged in recent years in communities with lower vaccination rates. The disease spreads through the air and can remain contagious on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.

Virginia health authorities have not publicly identified a single point of origin for the current cluster or set a target date for containment. The MMR vaccine, which covers measles, mumps, and rubella, is listed as the primary protective measure.

State health officials are expected to issue updated case counts and guidance later this week as investigators continue contact tracing across the affected county.