Measles Hospitalization Reported in North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced that a single individual has been hospitalized due to measles.

This marks the first hospitalization related to this outbreak in the state, although details about the location of the hospital have not been disclosed.

According to the NCDHHS dashboard, a total of 15 cases of measles have been reported across North Carolina since the week ending December 20.

Among these cases, one instance was identified in Nash County on January 27, while the remaining 14 cases involved individuals in Union, Mecklenburg, Buncombe, Polk, and Cabarrus Counties. Notably, Buncombe County has the highest number of cases at six.

Data indicates that nearly all of the individuals affected by measles this winter in North Carolina were under 17, with 74 percent not having received vaccinations.

Measles is extremely contagious and can be prevented through vaccination. The virus is transmitted via direct contact or through the air, and it can survive in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left. Symptoms typically emerge 7 to 14 days following exposure but can appear as late as 21 days, and may include:

• High fever, potentially exceeding 104 degrees
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Tiny white spots inside the mouth and on the inner cheeks, known as Koplik Spots, appearing two to three days after symptoms start
• A red, raised, blotchy rash, usually commencing on the face and spreading to the trunk, arms, and legs three to five days after initial symptoms

Complications from measles can include diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and immune system suppression.

Anyone experiencing symptoms is advised to contact their healthcare provider before visiting an office, urgent care, or emergency department, in order to minimize the risk of spreading the disease to others.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services urges all unvaccinated individuals aged one year and older to receive the measles vaccination to safeguard their health and that of those around them. While the MMR vaccine is not typically recommended for children younger than 12 months, it can be administered safely to infants as young as six months if they are deemed to be at greater risk.