Nearly 20 cases have been confirmed in the state since December<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Feb. 12, 2026 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Health officials in North Carolina are warning residents about possible measles<\/a> exposure after infected people visited stores, gyms and restaurants in and around the state capital over the past week.<\/p>\n The exposures were reported in Wake, Durham and Johnston counties, as the state continues to see a rise in measles cases this winter.<\/p>\n Statewide, 18 measles cases have been reported since December, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nearly three-quarters of the cases (72%) involved people who were not vaccinated, and most were younger than 18.<\/p>\n One child was hospitalized in Nash County, east of Raleigh.<\/p>\n Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known, Dr. Bridget Fogelman<\/a>, a pediatrician at Asheville Children’s Medical Center, told WRAL News<\/em>.<\/p>\n “It’s scary,” she said. “One out of three children less than 5 years of age will be hospitalized from some complication with measles. Pneumonia<\/a> can happen in 1 out of 20 unvaccinated children.”<\/p>\n Rebecca Kaufman<\/a>, Wake County public health director, said the virus strikes quickly.<\/p>\n “Even just being in the same room as someone who up to two hours earlier was there with the measles, you can contract the virus,” she told WRAL News<\/em>.<\/p>\n Community vaccination also protects babies who are too young to receive the measles shot, she added.<\/p>\n In Wake County, a person visiting from South Carolina who had measles visited five locations in Raleigh\u2019s Brier Creek area on Feb. 5, including a gym, two grocery stores, a pharmacy and a restaurant.<\/p>\n Here are the locations, according to WRAL News<\/em>:<\/p>\n O2 Fitness:<\/strong> 7801 Alexander Promenade Place. The person was present at the gym between 1:30 and 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Walgreens:<\/strong> 13301 Strickland Road. The person was in the store between 3:30 and 5:40 p.m. on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Everbowl:<\/strong> 7840 Alexander Promenade Place, Suite 125. The person visited the restaurant between 3:30 and 5:45 p.m. on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Harris Teeter:<\/strong> 13210 Strickland Road. The person visited between 5 and 7:10 p.m. on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Harris Teeter:<\/strong> 8345 Creedmoor Road. The person visited between 5:15 and 7:35 p.m. on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n In Durham County, officials reported that someone with measles visited three businesses on Feb. 6, including a thrift store and a restaurant.<\/p>\n In Johnston County, a patient with measles went to the emergency department at UNC Health Johnston. It was the county\u2019s first measles case since 2018.<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as the patient arrived, our emergency department team quickly masked and moved the patient to … limit exposure,\u201d Tommy Williams<\/a>, CEO of UNC Health Johnston, said.<\/p>\n Public health leaders say young children, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious illness.<\/p>\n Measles is not a mild infection, said Dr. Cameron Wolfe<\/a>, a professor of medicine at Duke University in Durham.<\/p>\n Even mild cases can cause high fever and diarrhea, while severe cases can lead to brain swelling, seizures, hearing loss or death.<\/p>\n Unlike some other viruses, measles almost always infects unvaccinated people who are exposed.<\/p>\n “There’s a 90% chance that an unvaccinated person exposed to measles will get it,” Wolfe explained.<\/p>\n Doctors stress that measles is preventable. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at stopping infection.<\/p>\n “If you have the vaccine, there is not much to worry about,” said Dr. David Wohl<\/a>, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.<\/p>\n The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC) recommends the MMR vaccine for anyone over age 1. In some higher-risk situations, babies as young as 6 months can safely receive it.<\/p>\n Measles symptoms usually start 7 to 14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days later. Early signs include:<\/p>\n High fever (sometimes over 104 degrees)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Cough and runny nose<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Red, watery eyes<\/p>\n<\/li>\n White spots inside the mouth<\/p>\n<\/li>\n A red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Anyone with symptoms should call ahead before visiting a doctor or hospital to avoid spreading the virus.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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