Another measles case has been reported in North Carolina.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and Gaston County Public Health have been informed of a measles case in a person who traveled through Gaston County while infectious.
Measles is a respiratory disease that is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. It can also be transmitted through contact with secretions from the nose or mouth of an infected person. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present.
Anyone who was at Constantine’s Restaurant, 1825 S. New Hope Road, Gastonia after 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 26, may have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms until Jan. 16. If symptoms develop, please contact your local health department right away and stay at home unless seeking medical care. Call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to others.
The individual also attended Christmas Town USA in McAdenville, North Carolina, from 5:30-8 p.m. on Dec. 26. However, the individual did not visit any indoor locations, so the risk of transmission of measles to others who were attending at the same time is low.
Public health officials are recommending all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them. Measles vaccine is also recommended for infants 6-11 months who will be traveling internationally or to areas with active measles outbreaks. The NCDHHS measles immunity checker tool is available for those who are unsure whether they have protection against measles.
As of Dec. 30, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2,065 people from 44 states as confirmed measles cases this year. This is the highest number of measles cases reported in the U.S. since the second dose of MMR vaccine became widely used in the early 1990s. One case of measles was identified in child from Polk County who was exposed while visiting the Spartanburg, S.C. area. Spartanburg county has one of the most active outbreaks in the southeast.
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 lead to severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in young children. Globally, measles killed approximately 95,000 people in 2024, with most of those being unvaccinated children five and under. This number has dropped 88% since 2000 thanks to vaccination efforts, meaning measles vaccines saved nearly 59 million lives since that time.
Vaccinations are safe, effective and remain the best way to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death from respiratory viral infections and from vaccine-preventable infections like measles. Measles can be prevented by the combination MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles, and it is recommended that all adults and children one year and older be up to date on their measles vaccine.
North Carolina residents can contact their health care provider or visit 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.
For more information about measles, please visit dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles.
