The Maryland Department of Health declared a measles outbreak Monday in St. Mary’s, Carroll and Cecil counties. The state is investigating 14 new cases, all involving unvaccinated residents.
What’s Happening: Maryland has confirmed 31 measles cases this year. Twenty-seven have been reported since July 15 in St. Mary’s, Carroll, Cecil and Charles counties.
By the Numbers: The cases reported since July 15 include 13 in St. Mary’s County, eight in Carroll County, five in Cecil County and one in Charles County. Four earlier cases involved residents of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Prince George’s counties.
What’s Important: No public exposure was found among the 14 new cases. Most involved household contacts, and there is no evidence of widespread community transmission.
About Those Vaccines: All 27 Maryland cases since July 15 involved unvaccinated residents, and the risk remains low for people who are fully vaccinated. An unprotected person has a 90% chance of infection when exposed to measles.
The Vaccine Schedule: The first routine dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is recommended at 12 to 15 months old. A second dose is recommended at 4 to 6 years old.
An early dose should be considered for infants 6 to 11 months old who live in or are traveling to an outbreak area. Adults should have at least one documented dose, while some adults at higher risk should have two doses if they have no other proof of immunity.
How This Affects Real People: Residents can check their vaccination records through their health care provider or the state’s secure My Immunization Record website. Local health departments also provide vaccinations and post information about upcoming clinics.
Standard health insurance plans typically cover the vaccine. The Vaccines for Children Program provides access for uninsured or underinsured children. Adults without enough insurance can ask their local health department whether free vaccination is available through the Maryland Vaccine Program.
The Response: More than 106,000 measles, mumps and rubella vaccines have been given in Maryland during 2026, including more than 24,000 since July 1. State and local health departments are working with community groups to provide vaccines and measles information.