3 Buncombe County children contract measles after South Carolina visit, NCDHHS reports

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Three siblings in Buncombe County contracted measles after visiting South Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) announced in Jan. 6 press releases.

According to NCDHHS, the family went to Spartanburg County, S.C., where there is a large measles outbreak, approximately one to two weeks before the children got sick.

No additional information will be released to protect the family’s privacy, according to the press release.

NCDHHS provided the following location and times of possible exposure:

• Mission Hospital Emergency Department waiting room, located at 509 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville
• Date: Jan. 4
• Time frame: Between 2 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

NCDHHS is working with the BCHHS Division of Public Health and Mission Hospital to identify and contact those who were exposed to determine their immunity status and what needs to be done to lower the spread.

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Laboratory testing is not recommended for people who were exposed unless they develop symptoms, according to the press release. If symptoms develop, contact your local health department immediately, limit exposure to people, and call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room.

The state health department said they’ve been in contact with the South Carolina Department of Public Health since the start of the measles outbreak.

NCDHHS recommends that all unvaccinated people one year and older get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination.

“People need to be aware that the risk of being exposed to measles is growing,” said Dr. Zack Moore, NCDHHS State Epidemiologist in the release. “Measles can be a very serious disease, so staying up to date on all recommended vaccines by checking with your health care provider is an important step we can all take to protect the health and well-being of our loved ones and our communities.”

The NCDHHS also announced the second measles case in the state, which was in Polk County on Dec. 31, 2025, was the first case believed to be related to the outbreak in the Upstate. There was a measles exposure in Gaston County after a person traveled while infectious, according to a Buncombe County press release. The first measles case of 2025 in N.C. involved an international traveler in June.

As of Dec. 30, 2025, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2,065 confirmed measles cases from 44 states. This is the highest reported number of U.S. measles cases since the second dose of MMR vaccine become widely used in the 1990s, according to the press release.

OFFICIALS URGE MEASLES VACCINATION AMID EXPOSURE RISK IN GASTON COUNTY

According to NCDHHS, measles is a vaccine-preventable disease. It’s highly contagious and is spread through person-to-person contact and through the air. NCDHHS says measles symptoms usually begin 7 to 14 days after exposure, with some cases appearing up to 21 days later and they may include:

• High fever, which could reach more than 104 degrees.
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• 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; usually starts on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin

N.C. residents can contact their health care provider or their local health department to schedule an appointment to get the vaccine and for more information.

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The MMR vaccine is also available at the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Immunization Clinic at 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, the county announced in a press release.

Clinic hours: Walk- in anytime on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday between 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The immunization clinic will be closed temporarily from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, with operations resuming at 9:30 a.m. that same day, according to Buncombe County.

Click HERE to learn more about the Vaccines for Children program. Click HERE for NCDHHS’ measles immunity checker tool. Click HERE to learn more about measles.