NC siblings test positive for measles after visiting South Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Three siblings in Buncombe County tested positive for measles after visiting South Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The family had visited Spartanburg County, where there is a large measles outbreak, approximately one to two weeks before the children became sick. To protect the family's privacy, no additional information will be released about these cases.

According to NCDHHS, anyone who visited the Mission Hospital Emergency Department waiting room, located at 509 Biltmore Ave. in Asheville, between 2 to 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 4 may have been exposed. NCDHHS and BCHHS Division of Public Health and Mission Hospital are working to contact exposed individuals.

If symptoms develop, NC DHHS say to contact your health department right away and stay at home unless you are seeking medical care. Call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room, so steps can be taken to prevent further exposure to others.

This is comes after a reported case in Gaston County.

What is measles?

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 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.

Symptoms usually begin one to two weeks after exposure but can appear up to 21 days. This includes:

• 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

The disease can lead to severe complications like pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in young children. Globally, measles killed 95,000 people in 2024 with most being unvaccinated children five and under.

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Public health officials recommend that all unvaccinated people aged one and older receive measles vaccinations. The vaccine is also recommended for infants 6 to 11 months who are traveling internationally or to areas with active measles outbreaks.