Mecklenburg County Public Health is sounding the alarm on the urgent need for measles vaccination amid a national spike in cases. With 222 reported incidents of measles across 12 states so far in 2025, including serious outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, the health officials are doubling down on their message to parents: Get your kids vaccinated with the MMR shot. Although Mecklenburg County hasn't reported a case this year, according to MeckNC Public Health, that doesn’t mean the area is immune to the threat.
Dr. Raynard Washington, Director of Mecklenburg County Public Health, expressed concern over the resurgence of a disease once stamped out in the U.S., "It is frustrating to see a disease that was once eliminated in the U.S. start to circulate again in communities across the country." Washington pointed out, highlighting the high contagion rate and severity of measles. He encouraged parents, in a statement obtained by MeckNC Public Health, to check their children's vaccine schedules for the sake of their health and to prevent local outbreaks.
Measles can escalate to serious health complications and is easily transmitted. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash. If unvaccinated, the chance of contracting measles post-exposure is a staggering 90%. The CDC recommends vaccinations for all ages, with kids needing a first MMR dose between 12 and 15 months and a second dose between 4 and 6 years old. Effectiveness is significant, with one dose clocking in at 93% and two doses at 97%.
Should you notice measles symptoms, don't hesitate to contact a healthcare provider. But remember to phone them first—before you make the trip—so instructions can be shared to contain the virus and reduce the risk of it spreading further. The importance of timely medical intervention resonates now more than ever, with one in five measles cases landing Americans in the hospital, as MeckNC Public Health warns the public.
