{"id":2874,"date":"2026-08-14T16:19:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T16:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/clinicians\/?page_id=2874"},"modified":"2026-08-19T11:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T11:59:34","slug":"updates-on-measles-outbreak-and-vaccine-recommendations-in-virginia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/clinicians\/clinician-letters\/updates-on-measles-outbreak-and-vaccine-recommendations-in-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"Updates on Measles Outbreak and Vaccine Recommendations in Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Updates on Measles Outbreak and Vaccine Recommendations in Virginia<\/h2>\n

August 19, 2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Colleague,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This letter provides updates on the\u00a02026\u00a0measles outbreak\u00a0in Virginia\u00a0and\u00a0information about general\u00a0vaccination\u00a0recommendations in Virginia.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

VDH\u00a0Declares End to Measles Outbreak in Buckingham and Cumberland Counties<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH)\u00a0recently\u00a0<\/span>announced<\/span><\/a>\u00a0the\u00a0end of\u00a0the 2026 measles outbreak\u00a0in Buckingham\u00a0and Cumberland\u00a0Counties.\u00a0The last confirmed outbreak-associated case was reported on June 29. An outbreak of measles is considered over after 42 days (two\u00a021-day\u00a0incubation periods) have passed without\u00a0identifying\u00a0a new case.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The outbreak resulted\u00a0in 154\u00a0measles cases\u00a0counted\u00a0since May 5.\u00a0All cases were in people who were not vaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Over a third of cases\u00a0(38%)\u00a0were in adults 18 years of age or older.\u00a0Four\u00a0people were hospitalized with measles-related complications during this outbreak. No deaths were reported.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

VDH announces the end of this outbreak with cautious optimism.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>The risk of measles reintroduction\u00a0remains\u00a0high in the Commonwealth as measles cases continue to rise across the\u00a0<\/span>nation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>globally<\/span><\/a>. Although the local health department continues to closely\u00a0monitor\u00a0the areas affected by the outbreak\u00a0and will\u00a0rapidly\u00a0respond to any suspect cases, there could be measles cases that are not known to VDH.\u00a0Localities with\u00a0<\/span>MMR vaccination coverage rates<\/span><\/a>\u00a0lower than 95% are vulnerable to measles outbreaks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the outbreak, VDH issued\u00a0outbreak-specific\u00a0vaccination recommendations\u00a0for the affected areas to enhance protection when the risk of exposure to measles was high in the community.\u00a0Now that the outbreak has ended,\u00a0<\/span>these outbreak vaccination\u00a0recommendations are no longer in effect for these areas.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Outbreaks such as this are good reminders of the importance of vaccination, particularly during the time of year when many families are sending their children back to school.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the outbreak ending,\u00a0VDH encourages\u00a0all\u00a0clinicians\u00a0across the Commonwealth\u00a0to:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n