North Carolina health officials have confirmed additional measles cases involving three siblings in Buncombe County. These incidents follow a large measles outbreak in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, which the family had visited roughly a week or two prior to the onset of the children's symptoms. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Division of Public Health have refrained from releasing further information to respect the family's privacy.
The NCDHHS has been actively communicating with their South Carolinian counterparts since the outbreak's inception. Health officials strongly advise people who are unvaccinated and over a year old to get vaccinated against measles quickly, emphasizing its importance for personal and public health protection. Concerned they might have been exposed to the virus, individuals who were in the Mission Hospital Emergency Department's waiting room in Asheville during the early morning hours on Sunday are being traced and assessed for immunity.
Public health representatives are discouraging the public from rushing to get tested for the measles virus unless they exhibit specific symptoms, which include high fever, cough, a runny nose, red and watery eyes, white spots in the mouth, and a characteristic rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body. Those with symptoms are urged to contact their local health department immediately, reduce contact with others, and inform medical facilities prior to arrival to prevent further spread of the disease.
North Carolinians are encouraged to reach out to their healthcare providers or local health departments regarding the measles vaccine and to check their immunity status through the NCDHHS measles immunity checker tool. Vaccines are readily available, especially for children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program. "People need to be aware that the risk of being exposed to measles is growing," Dr. Zack Moore, NCDHHS State Epidemiologist, told the NCDHHS website. Complications from measles can be severe, impacting the gastrointestinal system, the lungs, the brain, and overall immune function.
As of the end of December 2025, the U.S. has witnessed a resurgence of the measles virus with 2,065 confirmed cases across 44 states, according to the NCDHHS.
