GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — North Carolina is now a city. It’s the first time since 2018 that North Carolina has had a case of measles. It happened near Charlotte on Monday.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported the case. Health officials at ECU said the disease is spread through the air and is one of the most common viruses out there.
Another worry is that someone can spread the disease up to four days before they even start to feel sick. They said a big part of stopping the virus from spreading is making sure your child gets the measles shot.
The problem with measles is that you need more than 95% of people in your community to be vaccinated to really stop it, said Alex Dalzell, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the ECU Brody School of Medicine. “So, we’re way below that number in the county, let alone North Carolina.”
There is a chance that someone in our neighborhood will get measles. So, it’s most likely to affect kids who haven’t been vaccinated or who may have been immunized but may not be able to fight off the disease.
He also said that having measles doesn’t just make you sick for a short time; it can also lead to asthma and other health problems. The first dose of the vaccine should be given to kids between 12 and 15 months old, and the second dose should be given between 4 and 6 years old.