Nashville Hospital Confirms Measles Treatment in Young Patient
A child has contracted a case of the measles and was treated at a Nashville hospital, a spokesperson confirmed to FOX 17 News. The patient received care at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where officials stated the child was admitted overnight Sunday into Monday morning before being successfully discharged. State health authorities have since clarified that the young patient is not a resident of Tennessee and contracted the virus outside state lines.
The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed that the child was not exposed to the virus within Tennessee and that no local exposures have been identified across the state.
Regional Case Counts and Vaccination Status Remain Unclear
Data from the Tennessee Department of Health indicates this marks the second confirmed case of measles in the Nashville-Davidson County region this year. State records updated through late October show at least nine total measles cases across Tennessee in 2026. A little over half of those statewide cases affected adults between the ages of 18 and 49, while approximately one-third involved children between 5 and 17 years old. East Tennessee has shouldered the majority of the state’s total burden this year.
Hospital officials noted that it was not immediately clear if the child was vaccinated against the virus. Measles remains a highly contagious disease capable of lingering in an airspace for up to two hours after an infected individual leaves the area, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health authorities continue to urge parents to contact a physician immediately if they suspect exposure.
New York Declares Disaster Emergency as Measles Cases Climb
Earlier this month, New York declared a state disaster emergency over measles, while Pennsylvania reported more than 1,000 cases alongside five measles-associated deaths.
The Tennessee Department of Health confirms a child from out of state was treated for measles at a Nashville hospital, and officials state that no exposures have been identified within Tennessee.
