Additional Measles Case in North Carolina, NCDHHS Urges Vaccination

PRESS RELEASE - The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new case of measles in Rutherford County. This brings the total number of North Carolina measles cases to five since late December. All individuals who may have been exposed have been notified. To protect the individual's privacy, no additional information about the case will be released.

RALEIGH

Jan 9, 2026

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new case of measles in Rutherford County. This brings the total number of North Carolina measles cases to five since late December. All individuals who may have been exposed have been notified. To protect the individual's privacy, no additional information about the case will be released.

NCDHHS recommends all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them.

"With the risk of measles exposure increasing, vaccination remains our strongest and most effective defense," said Dr. Zack Moore, NCDHHS State Epidemiologist. "Measles is highly contagious, but it is also preventable. We urge anyone who is not fully vaccinated to take action now to protect themselves, their families, and our community."

Laboratory testing is not recommended for people who were exposed unless they develop symptoms of measles, including fever and rash. Symptoms of measles can start seven to 21 days after being exposed. If symptoms develop, please contact your local health department right away, limit exposure to other people, and call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to others.

North Carolina residents can contact their health care provider or their local health department for additional information on ways to obtain the vaccine and schedule an appointment. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program. The NCDHHS measles immunity checker tool is also available for those who are unsure whether they might need additional protection.

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact and through the air. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) two to three days after symptoms begin
• A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
• Measles can also cause complications including diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and suppression of the immune system.

With the risk for community spread increasing, parents are urged to make sure their children are up to date on all their childhood immunizations, including the measles vaccine. Ninety percent of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected.

No source of exposure was identified for this case, which indicates that there are likely other undetected measles cases in the state. All of North Carolina's other recent measles cases were directly related to the ongoing measles outbreak in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. South Carolina health officials today announced 99 new measles cases in the past three days related to the outbreak.

In 2025, the CDC reported 2,144 confirmed measles cases in the United States for the year across 45 states, with 25 cases involving international travelers. In addition, the CDC reported 49 outbreaks in 2025, with 88 percent of confirmed cases (1,884 of 2,144) associated with an outbreak. Ninety-three percent of these cases were unvaccinated.

For more information about measles and the MMR vaccine, please visit dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles.

Related Topics: