Missouri health authorities have issued a warning regarding potential measles exposure at Busch Stadium and various businesses in the St. Louis area. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) stated that the incidents occurred between September 12 and September 14.
The exposure sites include local establishments such as bars, a cafe, a restaurant, a sandwich shop, a grocery store, and a convenience store. Officials advise anyone who was present at these locations during that timeframe to monitor themselves for measles symptoms for 21 days following their last exposure.
Individuals who develop symptoms are urged to contact their local public health agency immediately. Health officials also recommend that those suspecting they have measles isolate themselves and call their healthcare provider before seeking in-person care to prevent spreading the virus.
This situation represents the third measles case connected to what officials are describing as “train exposure in Missouri.” Earlier in September, the MDHSS reported a possible exposure at a Sedalia train station after a vaccinated individual boarded a Chicago-bound train on August 27. Approximately a week later, St. Louis County Public Health confirmed that a second person on that same train had contracted measles. That individual was fully vaccinated and marks the first confirmed measles case in a county resident in two decades.
Dr. Kanika Cunningham, director of the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health, emphasized the importance of immunization in a recent statement. “Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves, our families and our community from measles,” Cunningham said. She encouraged residents to review their vaccination records and contact healthcare providers if exposure is suspected.
Nationwide, measles cases in the United States have exceeded 3,400 in 2026, with confirmed infections in 45 states and Washington, D.C., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine—one between 12 and 15 months of age and a second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is approximately 93% effective, while two doses are 97% effective.
Despite the recommendations, vaccination rates have declined in recent years. Data from the CDC indicates that 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine during the 2025 to 2026 school year, down from 95.2% during the 2019 to 2020 academic year, which preceded the COVID-19 pandemic.
A fully vaccinated person getting infected is alarming, but the vaccine still offers high protection. Glad they’re urging people to call first, not walk in.
Vaccination rates dropping is scary. Two doses really do make a huge difference in keeping communities safe from outbreaks like this.