A traveler with measles visited a Subway and a Publix on Bailey Cove Road on Oct. 4-6. Here are the exact times, the symptoms and when to watch until.

A person with measles visited two businesses on Bailey Cove Road in south Huntsville while infectious. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) asked anyone who was there at the times below to check their vaccine status and watch for symptoms.

The person is an international traveler. A private laboratory reported the positive test to the state, ADPH said in its news release on the case.

Updated Oct. 25: The usual 14-day symptom window from the last listed exposure closed Oct. 20. As of Sunday, the ADPH newsroom had posted no further Huntsville case and no new exposure sites since its Oct. 13 release.

Where and when

Place Address Dates Times
Subway 7900 Bailey Cove Road Oct. 4, 5 and 6 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
Publix 12796 Bailey Cove Road SE Oct. 4 1 to 3 p.m.

ADPH named no other places.

How long to watch for symptoms

Measles symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after infection, ADPH said. The last listed exposure was Tuesday, Oct. 6. By that window, anyone infected that day would usually show symptoms by Tuesday, Oct. 20.

People with measles can spread it for several days before they feel sick, the department said.

The common symptoms, according to ADPH, are:

  • high fever, which may spike above 104 degrees
  • cough
  • runny nose
  • red, watery eyes
  • rash

How contagious it is

Measles spreads through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. An unvaccinated person who is exposed has a 90% chance of being infected, ADPH said.

It can cause serious problems, especially in children under 5. The department lists ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and death.

Measles is still rare in Alabama. The state had its first case since 2002 in August 2025, according to the ADPH measles page. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 4,000 confirmed cases this year, ADPH said.

What it means for you

  • If you were at either store at those times, check your vaccine records and watch for symptoms through Oct. 20, ADPH advised.
  • Adults unsure whether they are vaccinated should contact their health care provider, the department said.
  • Children need two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine: the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years, before school, following CDC advice.
  • Adults need one or two doses, depending on risk factors.
  • Before traveling abroad, everyone should be fully vaccinated. Babies 6 to 11 months old should get one dose before the trip and two more after their first birthday.

The Madison County Health Department can answer questions on vaccines at (256) 539-3711, according to its ADPH page.