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Nashville's Second Measles Case Tied to International Travel; Officials List Seven Exposure Sites
An unvaccinated Nashville resident who traveled abroad has been diagnosed with measles, prompting Metro health officials to identify seven potential exposure sites across the region and urge vigilance for 21 days.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. â Metro health officials confirmed the city's second case of measles this year, identifying an unvaccinated individual who had recently traveled internationally. The person sought care at a CareNow Urgent Care in Antioch on November 3 and tested positive for the virus the same day. They are now isolating at home, and officials say the general public is not believed to be at risk.
"We are optimistic that this person did seek care early and has been obeying the guidance of isolating at home, and we at this time do not feel that the general Nashville population is at risk," said Joanna Shaw-KaiKai, medical services director for the Metro Public Health Department.
The department's Vaccine Preventable Disease team has identified seven locations where the individual may have exposed others during their infectious period, which spanned from October 30 to November 3. The sites stretch from Arrington to Brentwood, Antioch, and Nashville:
- October 30 and November 2 â New Approach Jewelry School, 8242 Malachi Lane, Arrington - October 31, 11 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. â Westin Hotel Nashville L27 Halloween Party, 807 Clark Place, Nashville - November 1, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. â Remedy Lash and Co, 7024 Church Street E, Brentwood - November 1, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. â Subway, 330 Franklin Road, Brentwood - November 1, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. â Sprouts Grocery Store, 5821 Nolensville Pike, Nashville - November 2, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. â The Joint Chiropractic, 782 Old Hickory Boulevard #111, Brentwood - November 3, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. â CareNow Urgent Care, 5304 Cane Ridge Road, Antioch
Anyone who visited these locations during the specified windows should monitor for symptoms for 21 days. Early signs include high fever and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically starts near the head and spreads downward. Health officials say post-exposure prevention may be available for some contacts.
The response moved quickly: the urgent care center alerted public health authorities, a specimen was sent to the lab, and the diagnosis was confirmed the same day. Contact tracing teams, working with the Tennessee Department of Health and community partners, began notifying locations and reaching out to potentially exposed individuals.
"We have the public health structure, infrastructure in place to support that, and a very quick turnaround time, and that's working with our community partners also," Shaw-KaiKai said.
Measles is highly contagious but preventable through vaccination. Officials are urging residents to check their vaccination status and contact their healthcare provider or Metro Public Health if unsure. This is the second measles case confirmed in Nashville; the first was also linked to international travel.
The case underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates, especially as global travel can introduce the virus to local communities. Health officials stress that early care-seeking and isolation, as in this case, can significantly reduce the risk of wider transmission.