Polk County child contracts measles after South Carolina visit, NCDHHS reports

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — On Dec. 31, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced a child in Polk County had contracted measles after traveling to South Carolina.

According to the NCDHHS press release, the child was unvaccinated and had visited places in Spartanburg County, S.C., amid a large ongoing measles outbreak in Upstate S.C.

The child developed measles symptoms before Christmas and has now recovered, according to the press release. No additional information will be released about the child to protect the family’s privacy.

This is the second measles case in N.C. in 2025 and it’s the first believed to be related to the S.C. outbreak, NCDHHS said. The first measles case in N.C. involved an international traveler in June.

DOCTORS URGE PRECAUTIONS AS MEASLES SPREADS IN NEIGHBORING SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES

NCDHHS is working with the Polk County Health and Human Services Agency to identify locations and times where people might have been exposed to the child with measles in Polk County from Dec. 18 through Dec. 26.

The state health department provides the following days, times and locations in Polk County of possible exposure:

• Date: Dec. 18, Time: All day, Location: Polk Central Elementary
• Date: Dec. 23, Time: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Location: Mercy Urgent Care Foothills

If you visited the following locations during the exposure time, NCDHHS recommends that you review your immunization records or contact a health care provider to make sure you’re up to date on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. People who might have been exposed will be contacted and evaluated on whether they are immune to measles and what needs to be done to lower the spread, NCDHHS said.

According to Polk County’s disease updates webpage, there are 10 people quarantined and one confirmed case in relation to measles.

NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH OFFICIALS CONFIRM STATE’S FIRST MEASLES CASE OF 2025

Matt Caldwell, left, a Lubbock Fire Department official, administers a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to Clair May, 61, at the Lubbock Health Department, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)

Laboratory testing is not recommended for people who were exposed unless they develop symptoms, the press release said. If symptoms develop, please limit exposure to people and call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room.

The state health department recommends that all unvaccinated people aged one and older should get the MMR vaccination. According to the press release, 90% percent of unvaccinated people exposed to measles will become infected.

NCDHHS has been in contact with the South Carolina Department of Public Health since the beginning of the measles outbreak, the press release said.

MEASLES, WHOOPING COUGH, CHICKEN POX CASES SURGE IN UPSTATE DUE TO LOW VACCINATION RATES

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

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.