Nashville has recorded its first measles cases of 2026, and the Tennessee Department of Health is urging anyone who visited seven specific locations in Nashville and Murfreesboro between June 29 and July 4 to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms.
The Metro Nashville Public Health Department confirmed the city's first 2026 measles case on July 10, 2026. The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed a second case in Middle Tennessee on July 12, 2026, marking the first confirmed measles infection in Tennessee this year. These are the state's first 2026 cases, following eight confirmed cases in Tennessee in 2025.
Both individuals are currently recovering at home. One of the two patients was fully vaccinated against measles, while the vaccination status of the second patient is unknown. Both individuals were exposed to a confirmed measles case outside of Tennessee before developing illness.
There is currently no evidence of community spread beyond the two confirmed infections, but health officials are conducting contact tracing and monitoring possible exposures.
Why This Matters
Nashville is one of the most visited cities in the United States. The Fourth of July weekend is the city's single busiest tourism period of the year, drawing visitors from across the country. The exposure sites in this case — which include a restaurant, a grocery store, a bar, and entertainment venues — are the kind of places visited by locals, tourists, and people who were passing through town for the holiday.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. An infected person can transmit the virus to as many as nine out of ten susceptible contacts in a given setting. Crucially, measles spreads through the air — it does not require direct contact with an infected person. People who were in the listed locations during the exposure windows may have shared air with an infectious individual without ever interacting with them.
The fact that one of the two Tennessee cases involved a fully vaccinated individual is not cause for alarm — it is a reminder that the two-dose MMR provides approximately 97 to 99 percent protection, and rare breakthrough infections can still occur. Dr. Buddy Creech, a pediatric infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital, told NewsChannel5 that measles is among the most dangerous and contagious viruses known — and that the most important step for anyone concerned about exposure is to call a health-care provider before showing up in person.
What We Know So Far
The Tennessee Department of Health issued the full list of exposure sites on July 11, 2026. The exposure sites and monitoring windows are as follows:
- Catfeine Cat Cafe, 517 Carson Lane, Murfreesboro, TN — June 29, 2026, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 21
- Catfeine Cat Cafe, same location — June 30, 2026, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 21
- Waxing the City, 1108 Gallatin Ave., Nashville, TN — July 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 22
- Goodwill, 2101 Gallatin Pike N., Madison, TN — July 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 22
- Swett's Restaurant, 2725 Clifton Ave., Nashville, TN — July 3, 2026, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 24
- Publix, 1111 Gallatin Ave., Nashville, TN — July 3, 2026, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. — Monitor through July 24
- Dino's Bar and Grill, 411 Gallatin Ave., Nashville, TN — July 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 25
- Limo Peruvian Eatery, 1008 Fatherland St., Nashville, TN — July 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 25
- Paul's Corner, 824 Porter Road, Nashville, TN — July 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. — Monitor through July 25
Note: The editorial brief described seven exposure sites. The official Tennessee Department of Health press release lists nine distinct exposure dates and times across eight locations, with Catfeine Cat Cafe appearing on two consecutive days (June 29 and June 30). All nine windows listed above are confirmed from the official TDH release.
Where the Risk Is Highest
The monitoring windows for several sites remain open as of today, July 13, 2026:
- July 4 sites (Dino's Bar and Grill, Limo Peruvian Eatery, Paul's Corner): Monitor through July 25 — 12 days remain
- July 3 sites (Swett's Restaurant, Publix): Monitor through July 24 — 11 days remain
- July 1 sites (Waxing the City, Goodwill): Monitor through July 22 — 9 days remain
- June 29–30 (Catfeine Cat Cafe): Monitor through July 21 — 8 days remain
If you were at any of the above locations during the listed times and have not yet developed symptoms, you remain in the monitoring window and should watch for fever, cough, runny nose, and rash through the dates listed above.
These are Nashville and Murfreesboro neighborhoods — East Nashville (Gallatin Avenue corridor), Clifton, and Fatherland Street — that are heavily frequented by both Nashville residents and visitors.
What Doctors and Experts Say
Dr. Buddy Creech, pediatric infectious disease professor at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, called measles one of the most dangerous and contagious viruses ever identified. He said the vaccine is "spectacularly successful and safe" — offering 97 to 98 percent protection against measles disease and even higher protection against severe complications.
"If you really think you might have measles, call your health care provider in advance," Creech told NewsChannel5. He stressed that walking directly into a clinic or ER without calling ahead could expose vulnerable patients — including infants and immunocompromised individuals — in the waiting room.
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist commenting on the cases, called measles "nasty" and said vaccination remains the most important prevention step. He described the MMR as producing protection that "you can't do better than that with any vaccine."
What the Evidence Shows and What It Does Not
MedicalDaily Consumer Alert Check
- Total 2026 confirmed cases in Tennessee: 2 (both in Middle Tennessee)
- Nashville case confirmed: July 10, 2026 (first Nashville case of 2026)
- Second Middle Tennessee case confirmed: July 12, 2026
- Vaccination status: One fully vaccinated (breakthrough case), one unknown
- Both cases: Acquired outside Tennessee; no community spread confirmed
- Exposure sites: Nine distinct windows across eight locations in Nashville and Murfreesboro, June 29 – July 4, 2026
- Monitoring windows still open: July 21 through July 25, 2026
- What this does not mean: These cases represent a Nashville outbreak; there is currently no evidence of ongoing local transmission
Who Faces the Greatest Risk?
- Unvaccinated individuals who were at the listed locations during the exposure windows
- Infants under 12 months, who are too young for the MMR series
- Pregnant individuals who are not immune to measles
- Immunocompromised individuals who cannot receive the MMR vaccine
- Visitors to Nashville during the July 4 weekend who have since traveled to other cities and states — particularly relevant as this is a high-mobility period
Fully vaccinated individuals (two doses of MMR) face very low risk — roughly 1 to 3 percent residual susceptibility. They should still monitor for symptoms, but do not need to take urgent action.
Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, with a maximum incubation window of 21 days. Early symptoms are often mistaken for a severe cold or flu:
- High fever (frequently above 104°F)
- Persistent, dry cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
These prodromal symptoms last two to four days before the characteristic measles rash appears — a red, blotchy rash that begins on the face and hairline before spreading downward across the body.
If you develop these symptoms and were at any of the listed locations during the exposure windows: call your health-care provider before going in. Tell them you may have been exposed to measles. This helps staff prepare to receive you without exposing other waiting patients.
For emergency questions, call the Tennessee Department of Health at 615-741-7247.
What You Can Do Now
- If you were at any of the listed locations during the specified times, check your vaccination records to confirm your MMR status.
- If you are fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR, you are considered protected. Continue to monitor for symptoms through the listed dates as a precaution.
- If you are unvaccinated, contact your health-care provider immediately. Post-exposure MMR given within 72 hours of exposure may prevent measles or reduce its severity.
- If you develop symptoms during the monitoring window, call your provider or a clinic before going in, and identify yourself as a potential measles exposure case.
- If you are unvaccinated and were not at these locations but live in Middle Tennessee, this is an appropriate time to speak with your doctor about MMR vaccination.
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MMR vaccines are available by appointment at Nashville public health clinics:
- East Nashville Public Health Center, 1015 E. Trinity Lane, 615-862-7916
- Lentz Public Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Ave., 615-340-5607
- Woodbine Public Health Center, 224 Oriel Ave., 615-862-7940
Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know
The MMR vaccine is covered at no cost under the Affordable Care Act's preventive services mandate for most private insurance plans and Medicaid. For uninsured children, the Vaccines for Children program provides free MMR doses at participating providers. Uninsured adults can contact the Nashville Metro Public Health Department or Tennessee Department of Health for low-cost vaccination options.
What Happens Next
The Tennessee Department of Health and Metro Nashville Public Health Department are continuing contact tracing for individuals who may have been exposed at the listed sites. As of July 12, there is no evidence of community spread in Tennessee beyond the two confirmed cases.
The Tennessee Department of Health measles information page will be updated if additional exposure sites are identified or new cases are confirmed. The national measles case count — currently at 2,231 confirmed cases across 42 jurisdictions as of July 9, 2026 — is updated by the CDC each Thursday. MedicalDaily will update this story if new Tennessee cases or exposure sites are confirmed.
The Bottom Line
Nashville's first two measles cases of 2026 were linked to exposures acquired outside Tennessee — but the infected individuals were present at eight locations across Nashville and Murfreesboro during a nine-day window spanning the Fourth of July holiday. Several monitoring windows remain active through July 25. Anyone who visited the listed locations should check their vaccination status today. If you are unvaccinated and within the exposure window, contact your doctor promptly — there is still time for protective action. Fully vaccinated individuals face very low risk but should still monitor for symptoms.
