Measles outbreaks reported in three MD counties as students head back to school

As students head back to school across Maryland, outbreaks of measles have been reported in three Maryland counties.

In an email announcement on Aug. 24, the Maryland Department of Health said it is declaring an outbreak of measles in St. Mary’s, Carroll and Cecil counties and the identification and investigation of 14 new confirmed cases in unvaccinated Maryland residents. No public exposures have been identified in these cases.

There is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission, as most cases occurred among household contacts, the department related. The department is working with the local health departments in the affected areas to promote opportunities for vaccination.

How many cases of measles are confirmed so far this year in Maryland?

There are currently 31 confirmed cases in Maryland this year. Twenty-seven of those cases have been confirmed since July 15, 2026. Unvaccinated residents account for all of the 27 confirmed cases since July 15, 2026, identified in St. Mary’s (13), Carroll (8), Cecil (5) and Charles (1) counties. The four cases confirmed prior to July 15, 2026 were residents in Anne Arundel (2), Baltimore (1) and Prince George’s (1) counties.

Maryland’s top health official issues plan on getting fully vaccinated

“Measles is highly contagious and we are actively working with healthcare professionals and local health departments to support impacted communities, respond to cases and mitigate further spread,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani. “The overall risk remains low if you are fully vaccinated. We ask that Marylanders join us in our effort to help keep our youngest safe and protect those who are most at risk. Checking your vaccination status and getting vaccinated if you are not up-to-date is the simplest and most effective way to do that.”

If someone is not protected from measles, there is a 90% chance they will become infected if they are exposed to it. Following the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the MMR vaccine is routinely recommended at 12-15 months of age for the first dose, with the second dose at 4-6 years of age. An early dose should be considered for infants aged 6–11 months who live in or are traveling to an outbreak area.

Adults are recommended to have at least one documented dose of MMR and some who are at higher risk are recommended to have two doses if they don’t have other evidence of immunity. To check your immunization status, contact your health care provider or securely request your records online via My Immunization Record (MyIR).

Maryland local health departments are administering MMR and other vaccines, and are actively engaged with community partners to make vaccines and information about measles broadly available. More than 106,000 MMR vaccines have been administered so far in 2026, with more than 24,000 of them administered since July 1, 2026. Details about upcoming vaccine clinics in areas across the state are posted by local health departments.

Standard health insurance plans typically cover the MMR vaccine; it is also accessible via the Vaccines for Children Program for children who are uninsured or underinsured. Adults who are uninsured or underinsured can check with their local health department to see whether a free MMR vaccine is available through the Maryland Vaccine Program.

The Maryland Department of Health continues to provide measles-related information and guidance to Maryland health care providers and facilities, and the Department’s State Public Health Laboratory supports measles case investigations and response throughout the state.

Information about measles prevention, transmission, symptoms and what to do if you think you may have been exposed is available on the department websites. Those traveling out-of-state and internationally can check CDC and World Health Organization websites for information about outbreaks.

To protect the individuals’ privacy, the Maryland Department of Health will not provide any additional information about the patients.

Reporting by Keith Demko, Salisbury Daily Times / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.