A child in Mecklenburg County has been found to have measles (rubeola) by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
This is the first case of measles in North Carolina since 2018. It’s possible that the child got measles while traveling outside of the country. Luckily, the parents kept the child at home when they got back to North Carolina, except for one trip to the doctor, where the right steps were taken to keep the virus from spreading.
We will not share any more details about the patient in order to protect their privacy. The Division of Public Health at NCDHHS is working closely with the Mecklenburg County Health Department to make sure they are ready to find and deal with any other possible measles cases or exposures.
People who are sick with measles can spread it through the air when they cough or sneeze. Being in the same room as someone who has measles can give you the disease, even up to two hours after that person has left. Measles can lead to major health problems, like pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in kids younger than 5 years old.
People who have measles first get a fever that lasts for a few days. Then they get a cough, a runny nose, and pink eye. The rash starts on the face and upper neck and goes down the back and trunk. It then moves to the arms, hands, legs, and feet.
The redness starts to go away after five days. To help stop the virus from spreading, people who are sick should stay home and call ahead if they can before going to the doctor. As soon as a case of measles is identified, providers should call their local health department.
Getting a measles shot is important to keep your kids, yourself, and other people in the community safe. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 months should get their first dose of the MMR vaccine.
They should get their second dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years. People living in the U.S. older than 6 months who don’t have proof of protection and want to travel abroad should get the MMR vaccine before they leave.
- Infants aged 6 through 11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before departure
- Children aged 12 months or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days
- Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days
“The number of people getting measles is rising in the U.S. and around the world,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo-Tilson, State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. “Health care providers, schools, early childhood education providers, and parents should all work together to make sure that everyone has their measles shots up to date.”
“Measles infections can be avoided.” “Most people in Mecklenburg County have been vaccinated against measles and are not at a high risk,” Dr. Raynard Washington, director of public health for Mecklenburg County, said.
“This case shows once again how important it is for all families to make sure their children have all of their immunizations, including those for measles.”
There are more measles cases in the U.S. this year than last, which is a sign of a bigger problem with the disease around the world.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that 94% of Kindergarteners in North Carolina got the MMR vaccine during the 2012–2013 school year, compared to 93% overall.
Coverage is still high across the state, but it’s important to remember that coverage levels varies by county and school, with some areas more likely to have measles because fewer people have been vaccinated. On the Kindergarten Immunization Dashboard, you can see how many kids get vaccinated at the state, county, and school levels.
The Vaccines for Children program gives free vaccines to kids up to age 19. This means that kids who don’t have health insurance can still get vaccinated at a low or no cost.