Measles Case Reported in Huntsville After International Traveler Visits Bailey Cove Businesses
Health officials list Subway and Publix exposure windows and urge vaccination checks.
Alabama health officials are warning the public after a case of measles was reported in Huntsville involving an international traveler who visited businesses in the Bailey Cove area while infectious.
The Alabama Department of Public Health says a private laboratory reported the positive test. People who may have been exposed are urged to check their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms.
Health officials listed two possible exposure locations. The person visited the Subway at 7900 Bailey Cove Road in Huntsville on Oct. 4, 5 and 7 between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., and the Publix at 12796 Bailey Cove Road Southeast on Oct. 4 between 1 and 3 p.m.
Wes Stubblefield of the Alabama Department of Public Health said measles is a highly infectious virus. "Individuals should, if they were in proximity or in those establishments at that time, they should monitor themselves for symptoms," Stubblefield said. "And if they have any symptoms that might be concerning for a measles illness, that they notify their local physician or any clinic."
The virus is a serious, highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. If exposed, unvaccinated people have a 90 percent chance of becoming infected.
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after infection. Common symptoms include high fever that may spike above 104 degrees, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and rash.
Health officials say the best protection is the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The CDC has reported more than 4,000 confirmed measles cases in the United States this year, with many cases originating from international travel. This case comes just days after Pennsylvania reported its sixth measles death of 2026: a 39-year-old unvaccinated woman.
Measles can cause serious complications, especially in children under 5, including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and even death.
Reporting by WAFF. Read the original report: Measles case reported in Huntsville after international traveler visits Bailey Cove businesses.
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