Nashville finds first measles case since 2005 as vaccine exemptions gain popularity

Nashville has its first reported measles case in 20 years, according to the city health department.

The announcement on Friday indicates the sick person was unvaccinated against measles and had been traveling. That person is now in isolation.

Measles is on the rise across the country, as parents increasingly opt their kids out of vaccines.

Tennessee broke its record for kindergarten vaccine refusals this year. State data shows 4.6% of children got an exemption.

Those who hold reservations about the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine specifically tend to raise debunked concerns about the shot causing autism. Other parents are concerned about the total number of recommended vaccines more generally; some prefer to delay vaccines instead of fully opting out of them.

Across the country, there have been 44 measles outbreaks this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, there were only 16. Of those who contracted the virus this year, only 8% were vaccinated.

Tennessee’s first case for 2025 was reported in March, and since then, a total of seven cases have been reported. About half have been in an area the state designates as the Mid-Cumberland Region, which surrounds the Nashville metro area and includes some counties to the west. The rest have been in the Upper Cumberland Region, which encompasses 14 counties east of Nashville, including Putnam and Overton.