CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A confirmed case of measles has been found in a child in Mecklenburg County, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Health officials say the child was likely exposed to measles while traveling out of the country. This case marks the first measles case reported in North Carolina since 2018.
"Measles is on the rise globally and in the U.S.," North Carolina Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo-Tilson said in a release. "Parents, schools, early childhood education providers, and health care providers should work to ensure everyone is up to date with their measles vaccinations."
NCDHHS’ Division of Public Health is working closely with the Mecklenburg County Health Department to ensure readiness to detect and respond to other possible measles cases or exposures.
Measles is a highly contagious disease and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the World Health Organization. It can affect anyone but is most common in children.
Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash all over the body.
Health experts say vaccination is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to others. According to the NCDHHS, children who are not traveling internationally should receive their first dose of MMR vaccine at age 12 to 15 months and their second dose at 4 to 6 years.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 94% of North Carolina Kindergarteners were up to date on the MMR vaccine in the 2022-2023 school year.
Children who are uninsured can still be vaccinated at low or no cost through North Carolina's Vaccines for Children program, which offers free vaccines to children through 19 years of age.