On June 24, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) confirmed the state's first measles case of the year. The patient, a child visiting Forsyth and Guilford counties from a country experiencing measles outbreaks, fell ill during their stay.
People who visited specific locations in Kernersville or Greensboro between June 19 and June 22 may have been exposed to the virus. Those individuals are advised to check their immunization records or consult with healthcare providers to ensure they are up-to-date on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
NC DHHS emphasizes the importance of prompt recognition, reporting, and investigation of measles cases to limit disease spread through early identification and vaccination or quarantine of susceptible contacts. A memo detailing procedures for reporting, testing, and vaccination has been issued. Additional resources for healthcare providers will be available soon on the NC DHHS Measles Page.
The department recommends that all unvaccinated individuals aged one year and older receive the measles vaccine to protect themselves and others. Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, particularly in babies, children, and pregnant women. Unvaccinated children face the highest risk.
For more information on protection measures and outbreak preparedness by NC DHHS, visit the Division of Public Health's website. Additionally, NC DHHS has launched a Vaccines for Children and Teens webpage to assist parents with vaccine-related inquiries and requirements for schools and childcare facilities. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program offers free vaccines to eligible families through an interactive provider map connecting them with local providers offering these services.
Information from this article can be found here.
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