Nashville Measles Case Puts Seven Sites on Alert
Residents who visited the listed Nashville exposure sites should monitor for measles symptoms and talk to a doctor if they appear.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in COVID-19
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Nashville's Metro Public Health Department reported a second positive measles case, a child receiving treatment at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, who was reportedly unvaccinated and had recent international travel. Health officials listed seven exposure locations across the Nashville area, and residents who visited them during the infectious window should watch for symptoms.
Why it matters
Measles has been largely controlled in the United States, so a locally acquired or imported case that spreads to multiple public places is a reminder that gaps in vaccination leave communities exposed. Identifying exposure sites quickly is how health departments limit further spread.
The figures come from a Metro Public Health Department exposure investigation that traced the individual's movements during the infectious period. The vaccine effectiveness figure of 97 to 98 percent reflects established measles vaccine performance, and the source does not report any new study results.
The players
Metro Public Health Department
The Nashville-area public health agency responsible for investigating communicable disease cases, identifying exposure sites, and clearing businesses to resume operations.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
A Nashville pediatric hospital where the child with measles is receiving treatment.
The details
Measles spreads through airborne droplets and can linger in a room for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Health investigators reconstructed the case's movements, including visits on Oct. 30 and Nov. 2 to a jewelry school in Arrington, an Oct. 31 Halloween party at the Westin Hotel Nashville, and Nov. 1 stops at Sprouts, Subway and Remedy Lash and Co in Brentwood. Public health staff use these timelines to notify people who may have shared airspace during those windows.
Timeline
Oct. 30 and Nov. 2: Case visits New Approach Jewelry School in Arrington.
Oct. 31, 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.: Westin Hotel Nashville Halloween Party exposure window.
Nov. 1, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Remedy Lash and Co exposure window in Brentwood.
Nov. 2: Case visits The Joint Chiropractic in Brentwood.
Nov. 3: Case visits CareNow Urgent Care in Antioch.
Health Landscape
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, so isolated imported cases now trigger rapid contact tracing rather than sustained community spread. The case underscores how vaccination coverage determines whether a single exposure remains contained.
If you visited any of the listed exposure sites during the windows shown, watch for fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash over the following weeks and contact your doctor promptly if they appear. Anyone unsure of their vaccination status should discuss it with a clinician.
The takeaway
Measles is highly contagious, but two documented doses of the vaccine are about 97 to 98 percent effective. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, a conversation with your physician is a practical first step.
Further reading
For related context on infectious disease tracking, see COVID-19 coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WKRN News 2.
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