The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has confirmed a case of measles involving an international traveler who visited two businesses in the Huntsville Bailey Cove area while infectious.
Alabama Department of Public Health Confirms Measles Case
Health officials were notified of the positive test result by a private laboratory. The ADPH is now urging anyone who visited these locations during specific timeframes in early October to verify their vaccination status and monitor themselves for symptoms of the viral illness.
Potential Exposure Locations
According to the ADPH, the individual visited the following locations while contagious:
- Subway, 7900 Bailey Cove Road: The individual was a patron on October 4, 5, and 6 between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. While some reports indicated the individual visited the restaurant on October 3 or October 7, official guidance emphasizes the October 4–6 window.
- Publix, 12796 Bailey Cove Road Southeast: The traveler visited this store on October 4. Reports from the ADPH and other sources confirm the visit occurred between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. that day.
Measles Causes Severe Health Complications and Spreads Through Respiratory Droplets
Measles Spreads Through Respiratory Droplets and Causes Severe Complications
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Health officials note that unvaccinated individuals have a 90% chance of infection if exposed. Symptoms typically emerge seven to 14 days following exposure and include a high fever that may exceed 104 degrees, a cough, a runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a rash.
Complications from the virus can be severe, particularly in children under age five, potentially leading to ear infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, inflammation of the brain, and death.
Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine Recommendations
Vaccination Recommendations
The ADPH maintains that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective protection against the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive two doses of the vaccine: the first between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between ages 4 and 6. Adults who are uncertain of their immunity status are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers to determine if vaccination is necessary.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Measles Data
Nationally, the CDC has reported more than 4,000 confirmed measles cases across the United States this year, with many originating from international travel. In Alabama, health officials noted that while there was a confirmed case in an unvaccinated child in the northern part of the state in 2025, that patient has since recovered. Another Alabamian tested positive for the disease earlier this year but was out-of-state at the time and did not pose an outbreak risk to the local population, according to the Alabama Reflector.
The ADPH has not disclosed the vaccination status or the country of origin of the traveler involved in the current Huntsville case. Residents who suspect they may have been exposed or who develop symptoms are advised to contact a healthcare professional.
