Southside health officials urge measles precautions near regional outbreak

Southside Virginia health officials are asking residents to take measles precautions as an outbreak in the Buckingham County area continues to grow.

In a June 12 release shared by Pittsylvania County, the Southside Health District said Buckingham County, which borders Halifax County, is experiencing a measles outbreak and had 88 cases at the time of the notice. Health officials encouraged people to skip large, crowded events in the Buckingham area if they are unvaccinated or have measles symptoms.

The notice says measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It also warns that a person can spread the virus from four days before a rash begins until four days after it starts, meaning exposure can happen before someone realizes they are sick.

• What to know: Vaccination remains the best protection, and health officials point residents to the MMR vaccine.
• Who is affected: Southside residents who travel to crowded events, families with unvaccinated members and anyone checking immunization records.
• Action step: If exposed, watch for symptoms for 21 days; if symptoms appear, isolate, call a health-care provider and call ahead before seeking care.

Residents can check immunization status through a health-care provider or the Virginia Department of Health records portal, and VDH lists additional measles information and call-center support for questions.

Source: Reporting based on the Southside Health District release posted by Pittsylvania County on June 12, 2026, Southside Health District Asks for Community's Help to Stop Measles Spread, and Virginia Department of Health measles guidance linked in the notice.