Tennessee has confirmed five more measles cases since late August, all in the state health department's East Tennessee region, raising the state's 2026 total to nine. The Tennessee Department of Health's latest measles report, dated September 11, shows the count more than doubled from four in its August 28 report, WSMV reported on the state's latest count.
None of the nine patients has required hospitalization, according to the state report. The department has not said which counties the new cases are in, and it has not said whether the five infections are linked to one another or to the outbreak in Kentucky.
For families in East Tennessee, the update brings the concern closer to home than the summer's exposures in the Nashville area. The practical question now is whether every eligible person in the household is fully protected, especially when infants or relatives with weakened immune systems live in the home.
Developing Story Note: This report covers new developments involving measles cases in Tennessee and the outbreak in neighboring Kentucky. Information may change as health officials release additional findings. Latest verified update: Tennessee Department of Health report dated September 11, 2026. Kentucky figures reflect Kentucky Department for Public Health data as reported on September 14, 2026. National figures reflect CDC data as of September 10, 2026.
Six of the State's Nine Cases Are in One Region
Of Tennessee's nine confirmed cases this year, six are in the East Tennessee region, one is in the Memphis-Shelby County region, one is in the Mid-Cumberland region, and one is in the Nashville-Davidson County region, according to the state report. Three patients are ages 5 to 17, five are ages 18 to 49, and one is 50 or older.
Tennessee recorded eight confirmed cases in all of 2025, the most the state had seen in more than a decade, WSMV reported. With nine cases by mid-September, the state has already passed that total.
Knox County has not confirmed any cases, but local officials are urging residents to check their vaccination records. "Measles we think of as a disease of the past, but it's turning into a disease of the now," Dr. Megan Edwards, public health officer for the Knox County Health Department, told WVLT in Knoxville. A state kindergarten immunization assessment for the 2022 to 2023 school year found that about 93% of Knox County kindergartners were fully vaccinated, but only about a third of elementary schools met the 95% benchmark for herd immunity, and about a quarter had kindergarten rates below 90%, WVLT reported.
MedicalDaily previously reported on Nashville's first two measles cases of 2026 in July, when the state health department listed exposure sites in Nashville and Murfreesboro and said both patients had been exposed to a confirmed case outside Tennessee. The new cases are in a different part of the state, and officials have not described their source.
Kentucky's Outbreak and the National Picture
North of the state line, the Kentucky Department for Public Health has confirmed 46 measles cases this year, with four hospitalizations and no deaths, WKYT reported. All of Kentucky's 2026 cases have been in people without a recorded measles vaccination. Four cases in Jessamine County date from early 2026 and are not part of the current outbreak.
Christian County has the most cases with 19, followed by Trigg County with eight and Barren and Washington counties with five each. Christian, Trigg, and Todd counties, which together account for 28 cases, border Middle Tennessee rather than the East Tennessee region where the new Tennessee cases were found.
Nationally, the CDC reported 3,294 confirmed measles cases in 2026 as of September 10, with cases among U.S. residents reported by 47 jurisdictions and 38 new outbreaks reported this year. That already exceeds the 2,289 cases recorded in all of 2025. The CDC also reports that MMR vaccination coverage among kindergartners fell from 95.2% in the 2019 to 2020 school year to 92.4% in the 2025 to 2026 school year, leaving about 280,000 kindergartners at risk.
Protecting Children Before Symptoms Appear
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is 93% effective, according to the CDC. Parents can check a child's status through their pediatrician or school records. Infants too young to be vaccinated, pregnant people who are not immune, and anyone with a weakened immune system face higher risk and should contact a clinician quickly if an exposure occurs.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health's measles information page, early symptoms can include fever as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, runny nose, and red, irritated eyes. A red, blotchy rash typically appears three to seven days after those symptoms begin, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. The rash usually appears about 14 days after exposure.
Anyone who suspects measles should call a doctor, urgent care center, or emergency department before arriving so staff can avoid exposing others in the waiting room. Trouble breathing, confusion, seizures, signs of dehydration, or a very sick infant require immediate emergency care.
Adults with documented two-dose vaccination generally do not need to take extra steps based on the current count. Most health insurance plans cover the MMR vaccine, and eligible children can get vaccines at no cost through the federal Vaccines for Children program at participating providers and local health departments.
Open Questions and the Next State Report
Key details remain unconfirmed, including the counties where the East Tennessee cases occurred, whether the cases share a common source, and whether any public exposure sites exist. The state's two most recent reports were issued two weeks apart, and the CDC updates its national count weekly. MedicalDaily will update this story as officials release new information, including any exposure locations residents should check.
Tennessee's count more than doubled in two weeks; the new cases are concentrated in East Tennessee, and no patients have been hospitalized. For most households, the most useful step is confirming that every eligible family member has received two MMR doses.
Developing Story Timeline
September 11, 2026: A Tennessee Department of Health report shows five new measles cases in the East Tennessee region, raising the state's 2026 total to nine.
August 28, 2026: The state's report shows four confirmed measles cases in Tennessee.
July 11, 2026: The state confirms its first two measles cases of 2026 in Middle Tennessee and lists exposure sites in Nashville and Murfreesboro.
Key Questions Answered
How many measles cases has Tennessee confirmed in 2026? Nine, according to the Tennessee Department of Health's report dated September 11. Five of those were confirmed after the state's August 28 report.
Where are the new cases? All five new cases are in the state health department's East Tennessee region. The state has not named specific counties.
Has anyone been hospitalized? No. The state report says none of Tennessee's nine patients required hospitalization.
Are the Tennessee cases linked to Kentucky's outbreak? Officials have not said. The Kentucky outbreak counties along the state line border Middle Tennessee, not the East Tennessee region.
What symptoms should parents watch for? Fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed days later by a red, blotchy rash that starts on the face. Call ahead before visiting a clinic.
Who is most at risk? Unvaccinated people, infants too young for the vaccine, pregnant people who are not immune, and people with weakened immune systems.
How can families protect themselves? Confirm that every eligible family member has two MMR doses. Most insurance plans cover the vaccine, and eligible children can get it free through the Vaccines for Children program.
