A child in Mecklenburg County is the first confirmed case of measles in the state since 2018, the North Carolina Department of Health announced Monday.
The child probably came into contact with measles during a trip abroad, the state said.
The state said the parents kept the child home except for one doctor’s visit after returning to North Carolina. The state also said medical staff took appropriate precautions to prevent the virus from spreading.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
You can get measles just by being in a room where someone who has measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left the room.
Measles can cause serious health complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in children under five years of age.
Measles begins with a fever that lasts a few days, followed by cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis. A rash begins on the face and upper neck, spreads down the back and trunk, and then spreads to the arms and hands, legs, and feet.
After about five days the rash begins to subside.
People should stay home if they are sick, the state advised. Additionally, people should call ahead before seeking medical care if possible to prevent the spread of the virus. Providers should contact their local health department immediately if they suspect measles.
To protect children, yourself and others in the community, it is important to get vaccinated against measles.
Children not travelling abroad should receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age and their second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.
All U.S. residents over 6 months of age who do not have proof of immunity and plan to travel abroad should receive an MMR vaccination before departure.
- Infants aged 6 to 11 months should receive a dose of MMR vaccine before departure
- Children aged 12 months and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.
- Adolescents and adults without evidence of measles immunity should receive two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.
“Measles is on the rise worldwide and in the United States,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo-Tilson, state health director and chief medical officer of the NCDHHS. “Parents, schools, early childhood education providers and health care providers should work to ensure everyone keeps their measles vaccinations up to date.”
“Measles infection is preventable. Most Mecklenburg County residents are vaccinated against measles and are not at high risk,” said Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Health Director. “This case once again highlights how important it is for all families to make sure their children are vaccinated against measles and other children’s diseases.”
The increased number of measles cases in the United States this year reflects the increase in measles cases worldwide and the growing global threat posed by the disease.
