Mecklenburg health officials issue measles public exposure notice with 3rd case
Another measles case has been confirmed in Mecklenburg County, public health officials say.
Mecklenburg County Public Health on Tuesday announced a third case in an unvaccinated child. The health department said the child is in isolation and that contact tracing is underway but declined to provide additional information, citing privacy concerns. The case is one of more than 400 already reported across the nation in 2026, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Last year, there were 2,225 total cases after the disease had previously been declared eliminated in the United States.
The health department also announced “a public exposure notice” for measles for people who attended events at Sardis Presbyterian School on Jan. 17. Anyone who was at that location that day is encouraged to read what to do when exposed to measles, the health department said.
State public health officials say vaccinated people exposed to measles should monitor for symptoms for three weeks, while unvaccinated people should quarantine and contact their health care provider or local health department immediately.
Mecklenburg officials also are working with Union County public health officials to investigate the measles case of a Mecklenburg child who goes to school in Union County. Public health officials in Union County announced more than 170 quarantine orders late last week after they say an unvaccinated Mecklenburg child went to a Monroe school after contracting measles connected to an outbreak in South Carolina.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether that Mecklenburg child is among the already announced three cases.
“Public health continues to work with partners to investigate and monitor measles in our community to protect health and prevent further spread of the disease,” Mecklenburg Public Health interim director Dr. Kimberly Scott said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to get up to date on their MMR vaccine, which is safe and highly effective.”
The health department previously announced two other measles cases: one in an adult and one in a child. The child in that case, who is also isolated and recovering at home, was in contact with another child from Spartanburg, South Carolina, where there’s an outbreak of hundreds of cases, health officials said.
North Carolina public health officials report 14 measles cases statewide since December.
The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, is available at Mecklenburg County’s immunization clinics as well as health care providers and pharmacies.
Measles symptoms
Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Common initial symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
After two to three days of symptoms, the CDC adds, tiny white spots known as Koplik spots may appear inside the mouth.
The rash associated with measles typically appears three to five days after symptoms set in. The rash usually starts as flat red spots on the face at the hairline and can spread down the body. It may be accompanied by small raised bumps and/or a fever spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.
Mecklenburg Public Health recommends anyone with measles symptoms seek medical care immediately and call ahead before visiting a doctor’s office, clinic or emergency room “to get instructions to prevent further spread” of the disease.
