This article was originally published by Healthbeat, a nonprofit newsroom covering public health published by Civic News Company and KFF Health News. Sign up for their newsletters here.
Measles has spread from an unvaccinated Georgia State University student to three other people, bringing the total cases reported in Georgia this year to 10.
Three “close contacts” — two who were unvaccinated and one with an unknown vaccination status — got measles from the student, according to a press release from the state Department of Public Health. The three new patients are isolating at home.
Measles is highly contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has been there. In a group of unprotected people, 9 in 10 of those exposed will be infected.
Earlier this month, the Department of Public Health reported an unvaccinated person who had spent time on the Georgia State campus, at Inter Atlanta FC soccer practices and games, and at a Sweetgreen restaurant at Ponce City Market had measles.