Three Confirmed Measles Cases in Unvaccinated Metro Atlanta Family After International Travel

Atlanta Wire Staff 2 on May 21, 2026

Georgia public health officials are tracing potential exposures across metro Atlanta after confirming three new measles cases on Tuesday, May 19. The Georgia Department of Public Health announced that all three patients are members of the same family, were unvaccinated, and had recently traveled internationally before returning home.

The confirmation pushes Georgia’s 2026 measles case count to five — already half of the state’s total for all of 2025 — and adds to a national surge that has reshaped how state and federal agencies respond to one of the most contagious viruses in circulation.

What Officials Have Confirmed

According to the Department of Public Health, the metro Atlanta family was entirely unvaccinated and developed symptoms after returning home from international travel. The family members were not contagious during their trip, but officials said the post-arrival window is now the focus of an active contact tracing investigation.

State health workers are working to identify and notify individuals who may have crossed paths with the three patients once they returned to Georgia. That work spans households, workplaces, places of worship, retail spaces, and any healthcare settings the family visited after symptoms appeared.

11Alive reported that the family is located in the Acworth area, though state officials have not formally confirmed a precise neighborhood out of patient privacy considerations.

A Highly Contagious Virus

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to medicine. The virus spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after the infected person leaves an area, per the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure. Early signs include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. A rash of tiny red spots then develops, starting at the head and spreading downward across the rest of the body.

Health officials are urging anyone experiencing symptoms — particularly those who may have recently been in metro Atlanta locations linked to the family’s post-travel movements — to call their healthcare provider before visiting in person. Walk-in visits to doctors’ offices, urgent care clinics, or hospitals can expose other patients and staff in shared waiting areas.

A 2026 National Surge

The Atlanta cases land in the middle of an outbreak year that already counts as one of the worst for measles in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. As of May 14, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 1,893 confirmed measles cases across 40 jurisdictions, with 93% of cases — 1,761 of 1,893 — outbreak-associated.

The CDC has logged 27 new outbreaks in 2026 alone. Georgia’s prior 2026 cases include an infant who was too young to receive routine vaccinations and an unvaccinated Bryan County resident who had traveled out of state. The metro Atlanta family is the largest single case cluster reported in Georgia this year.

Three people died of measles in 2025, per the CDC. The agency has flagged ongoing outbreaks driven by vaccine hesitancy as a threat to the disease’s elimination status in the United States.

What the MMR Vaccine Offers

The MMR vaccine — measles, mumps, rubella — is the primary public-health tool against the virus. A single dose provides roughly 95% immunity. A second booster dose increases that protection to approximately 98%, per the Georgia Department of Public Health and CDC data cited by FOX 5 Atlanta.

The CDC recommends that children receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age, followed by a second dose between 4 and 6 years old. For infants aged 6 to 11 months who are traveling internationally, the CDC advises a single preventative dose before departure, followed by two regular doses after the child’s first birthday.

Adults who received only one childhood dose of MMR can ask their healthcare provider about a booster, particularly if they are planning international travel or live in areas affected by active outbreaks.

What This Means for Metro Atlanta

The Atlanta region’s status as a major international travel hub — anchored by Hartsfield-Jackson, the country’s busiest airport — makes the city particularly attentive to virus importations of any kind. Travel-linked measles cases are a familiar challenge for the Georgia Department of Public Health, but the size of the 2026 national outbreak adds urgency.

The case cluster also lands as metro Atlanta prepares for a summer of heavy international travel tied to the FIFA World Cup. Atlanta is one of 11 U.S. host cities, with eight matches scheduled at Mercedes-Benz Stadium between June 11 and July 19. Hundreds of thousands of international visitors are expected over the tournament window, intensifying the importance of community vaccination rates.

The Georgia Department of Public Health continues to update its measles guidance through dph.georgia.gov, and the CDC publishes weekly measles case counts at cdc.gov/measles. Families with questions about MMR vaccination schedules can consult their pediatrician or primary care physician directly. For now, state contact tracing efforts continue, and officials say additional public exposure notifications may follow as the investigation develops.

Senior Arthritis Care at Hollywood Laser Pain Center

Atlanta Wire Staff on May 21, 2026

By: Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida

Broward County is home to one of the most vibrant senior populations in the United States. The retirement communities of Hallandale Beach, Aventura, Hollywood, and Fort Lauderdale are populated by men and women who moved to South Florida for an active, engaged retirement and who want to continue living that way despite the realities of aging joints. Hollywood Laser Pain Center offers the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol as part of a non-pharmacological, non-surgical care approach for senior patients with arthritic joints. Dr. Bruce Mark, DC, has served Broward County’s senior community for more than 27 years.

Arthritis affects nearly half of adults over 65, making it one of the most common chronic conditions in the senior population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Osteoarthritis, the progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, is the dominant form, particularly affecting the knees, hips, hands, and spine. For South Florida seniors who want to continue walking on the beach, playing golf and tennis, swimming, gardening, and traveling, the impact of arthritic joint pain on these activities is not only physical. It can also affect the meaning and enjoyment of the retirement they spent years building toward.

The conventional approach, including NSAIDs, steroid injections, and eventual joint replacement, carries considerations that compound with age. NSAID use in older patients has been associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiovascular events, and renal impairment in geriatric care literature, including the American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria. Steroid injections provide temporary symptom relief, and published research, including a 2017 study in JAMA on triamcinolone in knee osteoarthritis, has examined the long-term effect of repeated injections on joint structure. Joint replacement surgery, while frequently effective, involves anesthesia, prolonged recovery, and surgical considerations that become more significant with advancing age.

Class IV laser therapy is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological option that does not involve the specific surgical, injection, or systemic medication considerations described above. It is offered at Hollywood Laser Pain Center as part of a broader care approach for senior arthritis patients.

How Arthritis Changes With Age

The arthritic joint of a 75-year-old presents differently than that of a 55-year-old. Cartilage in the older patient has less intrinsic regenerative capacity, reduced water content, and often more advanced structural changes including osteophyte formation and subchondral bone remodeling. The synovial membrane, which produces the joint’s lubricating fluid, is often chronically inflamed. These changes generally inform a care approach calibrated to the biology of the aging joint.

Photobiomodulation, the cellular-level effect produced by Class IV laser energy, has been studied in this context. Published research has examined the relationship between laser energy and chondrocyte activity, synovial inflammation, and microvascular perfusion in joint tissue. Some of this research has examined effects in aging articular cartilage. The body of clinical literature on photobiomodulation for osteoarthritis continues to develop.

Independence and Fall Prevention

For senior patients, arthritis care is generally understood to connect with fall prevention. Knee and hip arthritis can alter gait mechanics and reduce the muscular strength and joint stability that protect against falls. The CDC reports that falls are a leading cause of injury-related death in older adults and a primary driver of loss of independence. Care planning that addresses joint pain, range of motion, and the strengthening work that supports joint stability is part of the broader clinical conversation about fall prevention.

Dr. Mark’s evaluation of senior arthritis patients can include functional mobility assessment and gait analysis alongside the standard joint evaluation. The treatment plan considers pain, range of motion, and the functional dimensions that underlie safety and independence.

Serving Broward County’s Diverse Senior Community

Hollywood and Hallandale Beach are home to one of the most linguistically diverse senior populations in Florida. Dr. Mark’s practice serves patients in English, Spanish, Russian, and Haitian Creole, reflecting the cultural fabric of a community that includes long-established Jewish, Caribbean, and Latin American communities alongside a growing international retirement population.

Cultural competency in senior care has clinical implications. Patients who receive health information and treatment instructions in their primary language are generally observed to demonstrate better adherence, better outcomes, and greater satisfaction with their care across the health services research literature.

Non-Invasive and Generally Well-Tolerated

A practical consideration for senior patients is the tolerability profile of the treatment. Class IV laser therapy is non-invasive, requires no needles or incisions, and is generally well-tolerated. Sessions can be performed in a comfortable position even for patients with significant pain or limited mobility. Many senior patients describe the treatment experience as a sensation of pleasant warmth.

This tolerability profile is one of the reasons non-pharmacological options have a growing role in care planning for older patients managing arthritis alongside other medications.

Practical Considerations for Senior Arthritis Patients

Weight management is generally recognized as one of the most mechanically meaningful interventions for knee and hip arthritis. Published research on weight loss in knee osteoarthritis has documented substantial reductions in joint loading forces associated with modest weight loss in overweight and obese patients.

Low-impact aquatic exercise, available year-round in South Florida’s abundant pool facilities, provides joint-friendly cardiovascular and strengthening activity that supports arthritic joint health and the muscular stability that protects against falls.

Social engagement is generally associated with better quality-of-life and pain-coping outcomes in chronic pain conditions, including arthritis. South Florida’s active senior social community is itself a resource. Patients who remain socially engaged consistently report better overall pain and functional outcomes across the published literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is laser therapy safe for patients with pacemakers or metal joint implants?

A: Laser therapy is generally well-tolerated by patients with pacemakers when applied away from the implant site. Patients with metal joint implants should discuss their specific hardware with Dr. Mark, as treatment can often be applied to surrounding tissue.

Q: Can seniors with multiple health conditions receive laser therapy?

A: A thorough health history identifies any specific contraindications. Many common senior health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension, are not in themselves contraindications to laser therapy, but each treatment plan is developed on an individual basis following clinical evaluation.

Q: How long do treatment benefits last?

A: Patient experiences vary depending on the joint, the severity of the underlying condition, and individual response. Many senior patients choose periodic maintenance sessions as part of an ongoing care plan to support joint health and function over time.

Active Retirement and Senior Arthritis Care

For the senior residents of Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Aventura, and Broward County, maintaining an active, independent life is an important component of overall health and quality of life. At Hollywood Laser Pain Center, the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol is part of a non-pharmacological care approach for senior arthritis patients, used alongside the broader range of conservative and clinical options patients discuss with their healthcare team.

Senior patients experiencing arthritic joint pain, stiffness, or functional limitation may benefit from a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether Class IV laser therapy is appropriate for their specific needs.

Dr. Bruce Mark, DC | Chiropractor | Hollywood Laser Pain Center | Hollywood, Florida | reliefnowlaser.com/providers/hollywood/

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Effectiveness of treatments may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to discuss your specific medical needs and treatment options.