Measles case now confirmed in Huntsville: what to know + what to do

A case of measles has been confirmed in Huntsville, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The Huntsville resident had traveled internationally, which ADPH officials say is the most common source of measles cases in the United States.

Measles case reported in Huntsville

Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness that spreads through droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. If exposed, unvaccinated people have a 90 percent chance of becoming infected, according to the ADPH.

The ADPH reports that the person was a patron at Subway at 7900 Bailey Cove Road in Huntsville, on three consecutive days on Oct. 4, 5 and 6, 2026, between 11:30AM and 3PM. The individual was also a customer at Publix at 12796 Bailey Cove Road Southeast, on Oct. 4 between the hours of 1 and 3PM.

ADPH advises individuals who were present in the restaurant or store at the times above to check their vaccine status and monitor for measles symptoms. 

Measles symptoms usually appear 7-14 days after infection, and infected people can spread the disease to other people who are not protected for several days before becoming symptomatic.

Common measles symptoms include:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Rash

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people who received a measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967 may have received an older, inactivated (killed) version of the shot that was not effective.

The CDC says that anyone vaccinated before 1968 with an inactivated or unknown type of vaccine should get revaccinated with at least one dose of the modern live MMR vaccine.

Want more content like this? Follow Hville Blast on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.