CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Two cases of measles were confirmed in Mecklenburg County on Thursday, according to health officials.
Mecklenburg County Public Health officials said on Thursday, Jan. 22, that they were investigating two people, an adult and a child, who were confirmed to have measles.
Health officials said an adult had come into contact with someone who was traveling, and the child, who was unvaccinated, had been in contact with a child from Spartanburg, South Carolina, where over 600 cases were confirmed.
Both the child and adult are at home in isolation and recovering while the investigation continued.
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Officials did not say whether or not the child and the adult were related.
“With measles now confirmed in Mecklenburg County, we encourage everyone to get up to date on their MMR vaccine to protect their health and our community,” said Dr. Kimberly Scott, Mecklenburg County Public Health interim director. “While we have strong vaccine coverage in the county, we continue to see how fast measles can spread with measles cases increasing in the Carolinas. Vaccination is the best tool we have to prevent an outbreak here.”
Measles symptoms: What to know
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease; symptoms can begin seven to 21 days after exposure, according to health department officials, and it is preventable through vaccination.
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) appear two to three days after symptoms begin.
- A rash that is red, raised, and 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.
The North Carolina state health department also said this week that it recommends “all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them.”
You can learn more about measles and vaccinations on the state health department’s website here.
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