BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) – Health officials on Monday confirmed the first case of measles in Burke County and the 23rd overall in the Tar Heel State since December 2025.
Burke County Public Health on Monday, Feb. 23, confirmed the first case of measles in the county. The county also released possible exposure sites that happened Valentine’s Day Weekend and on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
The following locations and times are possible exposure sites.
- Friday, Feb. 13 at Walmart Supercenter in – Morganton, North Carolina from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 14 at NY Hibachi Buffet in Hickory, North Carolina from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 14 at Bo’s Family Entertainment – Lenoir, North Carolina 7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 17 at UNC Health Blue Ridge – Valdese, North Carolina 9 p.m. 3:30 a.m.
Here’s where each of those 23 cases were located as of Monday, according to the state:
- Buncombe County: 7 cases
- Burke County: 1 case
- Cabarrus County: 2 cases
- Johnston County: 1 case
- Lincoln County: 1 case
- Mecklenburg County: 3 cases
- Nash County: 1 case
- Polk County: 5 cases
- Rutherford County: 1 case
- Union County: 1 case
Cases in South Carolina close in on 1K
The total number of confirmed cases, as of Feb. 20, was 973 since September 2025, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
Measles symptoms: What to know
Measles is a respiratory disease that is highly contagious, but preventable with vaccines.
“Symptoms of measles can start seven to 21 days after being exposed,” the North Carolina health department said. “If symptoms develop, please contact your local health department right away, limit exposure to other people, and call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to others.”
Measles symptoms can include:
- High fever (can spike over 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. This can usually start on the face, spread to the trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.
“Measles can also cause complications including diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and suppression of the immune system,” the state health department said.
You can learn more about measles and vaccinations on the state health department’s website here.
In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, public health immunization clinics were offering walk-in measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines at all locations. Click here to learn more.
—> Related: Measles cases continue to rise: What you should know about treatment, vaccines
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