JACKSON — Mississippians need not worry about developing measles after an infected Tennessee traveler exposed diners at a Hattiesburg fast food restaurant last month, the Mississippi State Department of Health says.

"The incubation period for developing measles from exposure to this traveler has passed. Any potential measles exposure would have developed symptoms by now," MSDH State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said in a press statement on Friday. "We are grateful that, because of our strong immunization laws, Mississippians were protected from infection."

Measles still pose a threat to the state, Dobbs said, noting the nationwide outbreak of the disease that the U.S. declared eradicated nearly two decades ago. It's the worst outbreak in 25 years.

"This could easily happen again, so it is important that all Mississippians make sure that they are up to date on their measles vaccinations to avoid future risks," Dobbs said.

Still, MSDH has not identified a measles case in the state since 1992, and credits the fact that Mississippi has the strongest vaccine laws in the country, with more than 99% of children in the state vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.

Vaccine Skeptics Want Religious Exemptions

Except for homeschoolers, Mississippi law bars unvaccinated children from attending any school, public or private. The law only allows exemptions "for medical reasons" that must be issued by "a duly licensed physician" in cases where a local health officer decides "such exemption will not cause undue risk to the community."

Only two states—Mississippi and West Virginia—do not offer religious exemptions. But a group of activists and some lawmakers want to change that.

MaryJo Perry serves as the president of Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights, an organization that courts state lawmakers in their search for allies to help introduce vaccine exemptions laws.

"I need the freedom to be able to follow the leading of my convictions. A fundamental part of being a Christian is being able to pray and follow God's lead," she told the Jackson Free Press on Monday morning.

Perry is Southern Baptist, and even though opposition to vaccines is not an official part of her church's doctrine, she believes she would qualify for a religious exemption because of her personal faith.

"So if I feel a check in my spirit that something is not right for my child, like going to the doctor and getting nine vaccines in one visit, which is ridiculous, then I should be able to follow that," she said.

On Facebook, Perry's organization currently boasts more than 7,500 followers. In this year's legislative session, two state senators—Sen. Angela Burks Hill, R-Picayune, and Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall—introduced religious exemptions bills. Both died in committee. Similar bills died last year, also.

Sen. Fillingane: Lack of Exemptions 'Puts Us Out of the Mainstream'

On Monday morning, Fillingane told the Jackson Free Press that he introduced the legislation because he does not believe it is the "government's role to tell every parent how to raise their child."

Requiring vaccines, Perry argues, could even violate the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a 2014 law that says "government should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification."

Fillingane, who is also an attorney with a Hattiesburg-based practice, said requiring vaccines for religious objectors could be a "possible" violation of the law, but that a parent would need to file a lawsuit to test it out in court.

He said he takes calls from parents who want the option to opt their children out of mandatory vaccines.

"They wonder, 'If they can be protected in Alabama and Tennessee and Texas and California, why can't they be protected with similar options here in Mississippi?'" he said. "So they ask for that."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has identified 764 measles cases so far in 2019—up from just 372 in 2018. Most this year originate in New York or New Jersey, which have religious-exemptions laws. The majority of people who got measles, the CDC reports, were unvaccinated.

Fillingane said he is aware of concerns amid the worst measles outbreak in decades.

"Obviously, there's this measles outbreak that's very concerning, and certainly I don't think anybody is advocating widespread exemptions be granted for a majority of children in the state of Mississippi from the MMR shots or anything like that," he said. "But I do think that, if Mississippi is now of one of only two states that have not seen fit to grant parents some type of exemption for either the health of their child or based on religious preferences, I think that puts us out of the mainstream, to be honest with you."

Perry said she would like to see legislators go beyond just allowing religious exemptions, allowing a "personal beliefs" exemption for parents who oppose vaccines for nonreligious reasons.

"I think we really do need a personal belief exemption. I think that's only fair," she said. "I don't discriminate against people who don't believe like I do. But apparently some of our legislators maybe do, because they would support a religious exemption, but not a personal belief exemption."

When asked, Fillingane said he, too, would support nonreligious exemptions.

'The Cornerstone of a Healthy Population'

The Mississippi State Medical Association, a medical lobbying group, praised state lawmakers for maintaining current vaccine laws.

"Mississippi has a long history of strong legislation leading to robust vaccination rates for our population. As a result, our state is thankfully missing from the hotspot map showing concentrated outbreaks around the country," said Darren Scoggin, a Jackson-based doctor and MMA member.

MSMA President Michael Mansour, a cardiologist in Greenville, called strong vaccine requirements "the cornerstone of a healthy population."

"Physicians appreciate Mississippi's effective vaccine laws," Mansour said in the May 6 statement. "I focus a lot on preventative health. Vaccines save millions of lives globally, and Mississippi's pre-school immunization laws protect our citizens."

In a statement to the Jackson Free Press on Monday, MSDH Communications Director Liz Sharlot said Mississippi is "very fortunate to have one of the nation's strictest immunization laws for school-age children."

"This legislation has been upheld for many years," she said. "The Mississippi State Department of Health operates on scientific, evidence-based knowledge to make or recommend a policy.

Immunizations are safe and effective and save lives. Due to Mississippi’s strong laws, we have not seen outbreaks like other states are currently experiencing."

States that have reported measles cases to the CDC this year include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee and Washington.

Follow Jackson Free Press State Reporter Ashton Pittman on Twitter @ashtonpittman. Send tips to [email protected].