Potential Measles Exposure Identified in Henderson County

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has flagged an Exxon gas station in Hendersonville as a potential site for measles exposure. This follows the travel of an out-of-state resident who was contagious while passing through western North Carolina. It’s related to a previously identified location in Asheville, reported on Sunday, August 30.

NCDHHS advises that anyone who visited the Exxon at 1920 Four Seasons Blvd. in Hendersonville on August 25 between 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., or the Holiday Inn Express at 435 Smokey Park Highway in Asheville on August 26 from 1 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. could have been exposed to measles.

Individuals at the Exxon should monitor for symptoms until September 15, while those who were at the Holiday Inn Express should do so through September 16, as per the department’s guidance.

Dr. Emma Doran, who oversees vaccine-preventable and respiratory diseases at NCDHHS, mentioned that the individual with measles was just passing through North Carolina. “We had a resident from another state who traveled through North Carolina while they were infectious with measles,” she explained. “This can happen because measles is contagious even before a rash appears, which is why we sometimes get notifications like this and try to keep the public informed.”

Dr. Doran added that the situation was reported to North Carolina by health officials from the person’s home state. “The epidemiologist from another state reached out to us and said they had an individual with a case of measles,” she explained.

Measles is a respiratory illness that spreads through airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes. Notably, the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a location.

Symptoms typically show up seven to 14 days post-exposure, though they can appear as late as 21 days. These symptoms may include:

• High fever (which can exceed 104 degrees)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots) that appear two to three days after initial symptoms
• A red, raised rash that generally starts on the face and spreads to the body three to five days after symptoms begin

According to state health officials, both the hotel and gas station are cooperating fully with local health departments to alert customers and staff of potential exposure.

Dr. Doran reassured that there is currently no ongoing risk associated with visiting the Asheville hotel. “At this point, there’s no concern about the hotel being infectious,” she stated.

North Carolina recorded 24 measles cases between December 2025 and February 2026, with seven of those in Buncombe County. Fortunately, no new cases have emerged in North Carolina since February.

Dr. Doran pointed out a concerning trend; there has been a decline in MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination rates, especially as children prepare for school. “This trend can leave communities vulnerable,” she noted. “It creates the potential for measles to spread and lead to outbreaks, similar to what we’re seeing in other states.”

Health officials are urging individuals who might have been exposed to confirm their MMR vaccination status.

“The MMR vaccine is very effective,” Dr. Doran emphasized. “If you’ve had two doses, your odds of measles are quite low, even if you were in close proximity to an infected person.”

People who haven’t been vaccinated are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers.

Health authorities are still determining if this exposure will result in new measles cases. “We can’t predict whether there will be cases due to this traveler, but it’s always a possibility,” Dr. Doran said.

NCDHHS urges anyone developing symptoms to reach out to their local health department and stay at home unless they need medical assistance. If medical care is necessary, they should call ahead to notify staff and prevent further exposure.

As of August 27, 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,887 measles cases this year, marking the highest number of cases since the introduction of the second MMR vaccine dose in the early 1990s.