Two new cases of measles have been confirmed in Buncombe County, North Carolina, affecting two unvaccinated siblings. The outbreak is linked to an ongoing measles outbreak in the Upstate region of South Carolina, where over 124 new cases have been reported since last Friday. This brings the total number of measles cases in North Carolina to seven since late December, with five of those in Buncombe County. The affected children are in isolation, and public health officials are conducting contact tracing and notifying parents and guardians about potential exposure. The measles virus is highly contagious and can survive in the air for up to two hours, spreading through direct contact and the air. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, tiny white spots inside the mouth, and a rash. Health officials urge everyone aged one year or older to receive the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is the most effective way to prevent measles and its potentially serious complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 2,000 confirmed measles cases across the country last year, with 93% of those infected being unvaccinated. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new Measles Cases and Outbreaks Dashboard that will be updated twice a week with new case and exposure information.
