The Virginia Department of Health launched a statewide measles dashboard on May 21, prompted by a spike in cases.
At press time, Virginia has recorded 40 measles cases in 2026—up from the five cases documented in 2025. Among the known infections, 17 are connected to an ongoing outbreak in Buckingham County, which the VDH confirmed May 13.
Approximately 13 percent of known measles cases in Virginia have resulted in hospitalization, according to VDH data. No deaths from the disease have been reported in the Commonwealth or the United States this year.
No cases have been documented in the Blue Ridge Health District. Despite the lack of local infections, medical facilities across the region are displaying signs about the outbreak and the highly contagious disease.
The best known way to prevent measles infection is with the MMR vaccine, which is 97 percent effective at two doses.
VDH data shows that 33 cases (83 percent) of infections in the Commonwealth occurred in unvaccinated people. Two people with at least one dose of the MMR vaccine were infected. The vaccination status of the other five people with known measles infections is unknown.
For more information on measles and cases in Virginia, visit vdh.virginia.gov/measles.
Ahead of schedule
Work on the Old Ivy Road bridge over U.S. 29/250 bypass wrapped May 22, more than a month ahead of the project’s expected completion date. The construction, which cost $3.9 million, replaced several structural components and raised the clearance height under the bridge. Overnight work connected with the project will be completed in the coming weeks, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
