Three North Carolina children confirmed positive for measles

RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) — Three siblings in Buncombe County have been confirmed with measles after visiting Spartanburg County, South Carolina, during a large ongoing outbreak there, North Carolina health officials announced Tuesday.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and Buncombe County Health and Human Services said the family visited the South Carolina county one to two weeks before the children became sick. No additional information about the cases will be released to protect the family’s privacy.

People who visited the Mission Hospital Emergency Department waiting room at 509 Biltmore Ave. in Asheville between 2 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 4 might have been exposed to measles, according to NCDHHS.

Health officials are working with Mission Hospital to identify and contact exposed individuals to determine if they have immunity to measles and discuss actions needed to lower the risk of further spread.

“People need to be aware that the risk of being exposed to measles is growing,” said Dr. Zack Moore, NCDHHS State Epidemiologist. “Measles can be a very serious disease, so staying up to date on all recommended vaccines by checking with your health care provider is an important step we can all take to protect the health and well-being of our loved ones and our communities.”

Symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after exposure but can appear up to 21 days later. They include high fever that may spike above 104 degrees, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, tiny white spots in the mouth and a red, raised, blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms and legs.

Complications can include diarrhea, pneumonia, brain swelling and immune system suppression.

As of Dec. 30, 2025, the CDC reported 2,065 confirmed measles cases from 44 states this year. This is the highest number since the second MMR vaccine dose became widely used in the early 1990s. One other measles case was identified in a North Carolina resident in 2025.

NCDHHS recommends all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination. North Carolina residents can contact their health care provider or local health department for vaccine information.