Measles in Alabama: Huntsville Case Prompts Mobile County Health Officials to Urge MMR Check

MOBILE, Ala. — A confirmed measles case in Huntsville has the Mobile County Health Department urging residents to check their immunization records and make sure they are protected with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, as measles in Alabama returns to the headlines.

Earlier this week, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced that a private laboratory had reported a positive measles test in an international traveler who visited businesses in the Huntsville and Bailey Cove area while infectious.

Where the Huntsville exposures happened

According to the information shared by the Mobile County Health Department, the infected person visited:

• Subway, 7900 Bailey Cove Road, Huntsville: Oct. 4, 5 and 6, between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.
• Publix, 12796 Bailey Cove Road Southeast, Huntsville: Oct. 4, between 1 and 3 p.m.

Some other published reports of the state’s notice listed the third Subway date as Oct. 7. Anyone who visited that restaurant on any of those days should check ADPH’s announcement for the most current details.

ADPH advises anyone who was in the restaurant or the store during those times to check their vaccination status and watch for measles symptoms.

Measles symptoms typically appear about seven to 14 days after exposure but can take as long as 21 days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means people exposed in early October could still develop symptoms in the coming days.

Why a North Alabama case matters in Mobile

Huntsville is more than 300 miles from Mobile, but health officials say measles does not stay put. In the United States, measles cases often begin with international travel, and people move around the state and the country constantly for work, school, sports and vacations.

The CDC has reported more than 4,000 confirmed measles cases in the United States so far this year. With so many people traveling, both within the country and abroad, ADPH says the best protection is the MMR vaccine.

Mobile County has had its own recent brush with the disease. In September, the Mobile County Health Department said several county residents may have been exposed to measles on an international flight. In that case, the department said, all of the residents involved were vaccinated.

Alabama went many years without a measles case before the state reported its first case since 2002 in August 2025.

One of the most contagious diseases in the world

Measles is caused by a virus and is one of the most contagious diseases known. The virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room, so people can be exposed without ever having direct contact with the sick person.

According to the CDC, up to nine out of 10 people who are not immune and are close to an infected person will catch the disease. Infected people can spread measles from about four days before the telltale rash appears through about four days after.

In a highly mobile society with frequent travel and large public gatherings, measles can spread quickly among people who are not protected, health officials say.

“Measles is highly contagious, but it is also preventable,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, health officer for Mobile County. “With people traveling frequently and moving throughout our communities every day, this is an important time for everyone to check their immunization records and make sure they are protected. Staying up to date on the MMR vaccine helps protect not only you, but also those who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.”

Know the symptoms

Measles usually starts like many other illnesses, which is part of why it spreads. Early symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes

A rash follows, typically beginning on the face and spreading downward over the body.

Measles can be serious. The CDC says complications can include pneumonia, swelling of the brain known as encephalitis, and death. Young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious illness.

Call before you go

Anyone who believes they may have measles should call their health care provider before going to an office, clinic or emergency room. Calling ahead allows the provider to take steps to keep the patient away from others in the waiting room and reduce the chance of spreading the virus.

Vaccination is the best protection

The Mobile County Health Department encourages residents to review their immunization records and make sure they are current on the MMR vaccine. Vaccination remains the best defense against measles and helps prevent spread in families, schools, workplaces and the wider community.

The CDC says two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is about 93% effective. The CDC’s routine schedule calls for children to get their first dose at 12 to 15 months old and their second dose at 4 to 6 years old.

Adults without evidence of immunity are generally advised to get at least one dose, and some adults, including health care workers, college students and international travelers, are advised to have two. People born before 1957 are generally considered immune because measles was so widespread before the vaccine became available.

For people who may have been exposed and are not immune, the CDC says getting an MMR shot within 72 hours of exposure may provide some protection or make the illness milder. Anyone in that situation should contact a health care provider right away.

Not sure if you are protected?

People who are unsure of their vaccination status should contact their health care provider to confirm whether they are protected. A provider can review records or, in some cases, order a blood test that checks for immunity.

Parents should also check their children’s records to make sure they have received recommended immunizations on schedule. Alabama keeps immunization records in a statewide registry, and families can ask their child’s doctor or the health department for a copy.

Before you travel

Because many U.S. measles cases begin with travel, the CDC recommends that everyone be fully protected before traveling internationally. Infants 6 to 11 months old who will travel abroad are advised to receive an early dose of MMR vaccine, and older children and adults should have two doses before departure if they lack other evidence of immunity.

Travelers who develop a fever and rash after a trip should call a doctor and mention where they traveled.

Where to learn more

For more information about measles and vaccination, residents can contact the Mobile County Health Department or speak with their health care provider. Updates on the Huntsville case and any additional exposure sites will come from the Alabama Department of Public Health.