Maryland Department of Health declares measles outbreak in 3 counties with 14 new cases
No public exposures identified in 14 new cases, state health officials say
BALTIMORE —
The Maryland Department of Health is declaring an outbreak of measles in three counties.
State health officials declared an outbreak in Carroll, Cecil and St. Mary’s counties, as well as identified 14 new confirmed cases in unvaccinated Maryland residents. No public exposures have been identified in these cases.
State health officials said there is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission, saying as most cases occurred among household contacts.
MDH is working with the county health departments to promote opportunities for vaccination.
As of Monday, there were 31 confirmed measles cases in Maryland this year — 27 cases have been confirmed since July 15 in unvaccinated residents. The cases include 13 in St. Mary’s County, eight in Carroll County, five in Cecil County and one in Charles County.
Four cases confirmed before July 15 were residents in Anne Arundel (two), Baltimore (one) and Prince George’s (one) counties.
“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,” Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani said in a statement. “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.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kindergarten vaccination exemptions are at a record high nationally.
In Maryland, nonmedical exemptions for the 2025-2026 school year outnumber medical exemptions.
Celeste Jordan, president of the Carroll County Education Association, emphasized the importance of vaccination to protect those who cannot be vaccinated.
“And I think it’s kind of up to the rest of us to make sure that we receive the vaccines that we should to help protect those who can’t receive vaccines,” Jordan said. “But my hope is that people meet with their medical professionals that they deal with, and that they make the decision that’s right for them.”
Jordan added that her organization would collaborate with Carroll County Public Schools to assist with messaging about vaccination if needed.
“We would probably work in partnership with Carroll County public schools for messaging to everybody, and we would help in any way we could with that messaging,” she said.
Meg Sullivan, the Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services, noted that the risk of contracting measles remains low for vaccinated individuals.
“We want them to be aware of the information that we shared today, but also to stress that the most effective way to protect yourself is to be up-to-date with the MMR vaccine and that it is widely available in Maryland,” she said.
Video below: Doctor shares tips amid confirmed measles case in Maryland
Think you may have been exposed? Here’s what to do
It can take up to three weeks for symptoms to appear.
If someone is not protected from measles, there is a 90% chance they will become infected if they are exposed to it, MDH said.
| MDH LINK: Measles fact sheet
Were you vaccinated for measles? If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are generally considered protected. Check your immunization status securely online via My Immunization Record (MyIR).
MDH recommends all eligible people get fully vaccinated against measles. The measles vaccine is routinely recommended at 12-15 months of age for the first dose and the second dose at 4-6 years old. Sometimes a dose is given as early as six to 12 months if there is travel planned to an area that has ongoing measles transmission.
Monitor for early symptoms: People, especially those not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles, who were at any of these locations during the possible exposure times should monitor themselves for any early symptoms of measles for 21 days after the potential exposure.
Not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune? If you are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles (i.e., you already had measles) and you might have been exposed, call your health care provider or your local health department to discuss the best next steps for you. If your exposure occurred on or after April 14, 2026, you may qualify for post-exposure treatments.
What are the symptoms of measles? Early symptoms of measles are a fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit; runny nose; cough; and red, watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms typically develop 10 to 14 days after exposure but can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days after exposure. A person with measles is contagious, beginning four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins.
Call your health care provider: Exposed individuals who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles should not go to child care, school, work, or out in public, and should contact their health care provider. They should call their health care provider before going to a waiting room or emergency department so that the facility can take measures to prevent measles from spreading to others.
Is measles contagious? Health officials describe measles as a highly contagious disease that is spread easily through the air when an infectious person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after the infected person leaves the area. The disease is also spread by direct contact and after touching infected surfaces.