Two measles cases confirmed in Mecklenburg County

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Rash on the skin is one of the symptoms of measles, where two cases have been confirmed in Mecklenburg County. More than 700 cases have been confirmed in South Carolina.

Two measles cases have been confirmed in Mecklenburg County.

Mecklenburg Public Health is investigating an instance where an adult was in contact with a confirmed case through travel. The individual is in isolation and recovering at home. The second is an unvaccinated Mecklenburg County child who was in contact with another child in South Carolina, where an outbreak of the virus has surpassed 700 cases. 

What is measles?

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by the Rubeola virus. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and often rashes in the mouth and on parts of the body. It was once considered a common childhood illness. Rubeola is an airborne virus that spreads easily through the air and settles on surfaces. 

Most people recover in approximately 10 days if properly isolated and treated. While there is no direct cure for measles, symptoms can be eased and recovery can be accelerated by managing symptoms through proper hydration and rest. It is recommended to get the MMR (measles, mumps and rebella) vaccine as well. 

“With measles cases now confirmed in Mecklenburg County, we encourage everyone to get up to date on their MMR vaccine to protect their health and our community,” said Dr. Kimberly Scott, Mecklenburg’s interim health director. “While we have strong vaccine coverage in the county, we continue to see how fast measles can spread with measles cases increasing in the Carolinas. Vaccination is the best tool we have to prevent an outbreak here.” 

While most cases of measles can be treated at home, it can be lethal if it is aggressive and individuals have underlying health conditions. 

“Measles can also have several severe complications, like hospitalizations or pneumonia, especially amongst our young children and immunocompromised persons, which basically means a person whose body might not be able to fight infections,” Scott said. “Around 90% or about nine out of 10 unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles may become infected.”

Mecklenburg County’s response 

Joy Smith, Mecklenburg’s communicable disease director, outlined the county’s process when infectious diseases are detected in a media briefing. 

“Our team is responsible for communicable disease investigation and contact tracing,” she said. “Once we receive notice of a suspected or confirmed case, our communicable disease nurses conduct a thorough investigation to determine the individual's infectious period, travel history and potential exposure locations, the individual is then advised to isolate to prevent further transmission. 

“The next step is contact tracing and notification. Trained staff are notifying individuals who may have been exposed. Those contacts will receive guidance based on their risk level, including symptom monitoring, testing, vaccination recommendations and quarantine, if indicated.”

Smith noted that the processes are complete for the confirmed cases. She emphasized the importance of vaccination and making sure individuals are up to date on vaccines in order to combat the spread. 

Importance of MMR vaccine 

Mecklenburg’s Medical Director Bonnie Coyle said measles is so contagious that a person going into a room hours after a person with the virus has left, there is a high risk of infection. That’s part of the reason why vaccination is crucial.

“Vaccination is the best tool we have to prevent measles and avoid serious health complications from the disease,” she said. “Children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. The first dose is at ages 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose is given between four and six years of age. One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles, and two doses are 97% effective at preventing the disease.”

Adults who weren’t vaccinated as a child are recommended to get the vaccine as well, unless you were born before 1957.

“For most adults, one vaccine is considered adequate coverage,” Coyle said. “Some groups, like health care workers, college students, those who are traveling internationally and contact immunocompromised individuals should receive two doses of MMR. In addition, adults who are born before 1957 are considered immune. If you're unsure of your vaccine status, talk with your primary care provider about whether you should receive additional doses or check a titer to see if you are immune.”

Titer is a lab measurement of the concentration or amount of antibodies that determines immunity to a disease.

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