A possible measles outbreak has been reported in Wake County, North Carolina, where an infected person visited a gym, several stores and restaurants over the past week, exposing shoppers in the area to the infection.
A person infected with measles visited five locations in Raleigh on Feb. 5, according to a Wake County Public Health announcement.
While other counties in the area also reported a risk of measles exposure – in Durham, measles exposure was reported at three known locations on February 6th, while in Johnston County someone came to the emergency room with measles on February 7th.
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According to the North Carolina Department of Public Health and Human Services dashboard, 18 measles cases have been reported in North Carolina since December 2025. In one case, a child was hospitalized in Nash County.
All but two of North Carolina’s known cases this winter have been in people younger than 18.
State figures show that 72% of them have not been vaccinated.
‘Watch for symptoms when…’: Measles exposure at multiple sites
Wake County said the infected person visited the following locations in Raleigh’s Brier Creek area on February 5. They said anyone who was in the areas at the times below could also have been exposed to measles and asked them to watch for symptoms and get vaccinated:
- O2 Fitness, 7801 Alexander Promenade Place, Raleigh: 1:30-5:15 p.m
- Everbowl, 7840 Alexander Promenade Place, Suite 125, Raleigh: 3:30-5:45 p.m.
- Harris Teeter, 13210 Strickland Road, Raleigh: 5-7:10 p.m
- Harris Teeter, 8345 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh: 5:15-7:35 p.m
- Walgreens, 13301 Strickland Road, Raleigh: 3:30-5:40 p.m., Feb. 6
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what is measles?
Measles is a respiratory disease that spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing. It can also be transmitted by contact with secretions from the nose or mouth of an infected person. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was.
Measles symptoms
Measles symptoms usually start to appear after 7-14 days of exposure, but can appear up to 21 days later. These symptoms may include:
- High fever (may rise to more than 104°F)
- Cough
- Cold
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik’s spots) that appear two to three days after the onset of symptoms
- A red, raised, blotchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs three to five days after symptoms start
If symptoms develop, Wake County suggests that the patient call ahead before visiting a doctor’s office or emergency department so that precautions can be taken to prevent further exposure.
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Is measles fatal?
Measles can lead to serious complications, especially in young children, such as pneumonia and encephalitis.
According to Wake County, measles killed about 95,000 people worldwide in 2024, most of them unvaccinated children age 5 and under. Notably, there has been an 88% decrease in measles deaths since 2000 as a result of vaccination.
Prevention of measles
“Measles is easy to spread, but it’s also preventable,” said Wake County Public Health Director Rebecca Kaufman. Vaccination remains the best way to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death from measles.
“The MMR vaccine has been used for decades and is safe and highly effective,” Kaufman said. “If you or your child are not up-to-date on vaccinations, now is the time to protect yourself. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also infants, older adults and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to serious complications.”