Measles Outbreak: Contagious Individual Visited Wake County, Confirmed Case in Durham
Measles Outbreak Spreads Across Multiple Counties
Recent reports have revealed that measles exposures have been detected in Wake, Durham, and Johnston counties. Health officials are urging residents to be vigilant and monitor for symptoms if they visited any of the listed locations during the specified times.
Durham County Confirms Measles Case
On Wednesday, Durham County Public Health announced that a person with a confirmed case of measles had visited several locations within the county while contagious. The individual is not a resident of Durham County and was present at three different spots on Friday.
Residents who were at these locations during the following times may have been exposed:
- Goodwill, 4318 Garret Rd., Durham, NC, 27707, from 10:20 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.
- Chubby’s Tacos, 4711 Hope Valley Road, Durham, NC, 27707, from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Plato’s Closet, 8128 Renaissance Pkwy #110, Durham, NC, 27713, from 12:45 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wake County Reports Measles Exposure
Wake County Public Health also reported that a person infected with measles visited multiple public places in the county while contagious. According to Rebecca Kaufman, director of Wake County Public Health, the infected individual does not reside in Wake County and lives in another state.
“This person resides in a different state and visited Wake County during their infectious period,” she said. “It’s more contagious than COVID-19 or some of these other viruses that we recently have seen and know about.”
Residents who visited the following locations during the specified times may have been exposed:
- O2 Fitness, 7801 Alexander Promenade Place, Raleigh, NC, 27617, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 5.
- Everbowl, 7840 Alexander Promenade Place, Suite 125, Raleigh, NC, 27617, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Feb. 5.
- Harris Teeter, 13210 Strickland Road, Raleigh, NC, 27613, from 5 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. on Feb. 5.
- Harris Teeter, 8345 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC, 27613, from 5:15 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. on Feb. 5.
- Walgreens, 13301 Strickland Road, Raleigh, NC, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. on Feb. 6.
First Measles Case in Johnston County Since 2018
Johnston County has also confirmed its first measles case since 2018. While it is unclear whether the infected person visited multiple counties, health officials are working closely with local healthcare providers to identify and contact those potentially exposed.
Durham County Public Health has not released additional details about the infected individual due to patient confidentiality laws.
Community Concerns and Precautions
Sara King, a regular customer at Harris Teeter on Creedmoor Road, expressed her concern upon learning that the store was one of the locations linked to possible exposure.
“I was here on the 5th. Yes, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I checked my calendar. I keep a journal. I go, ‘Oh, my goodness. That’s my store!'”
King, who is fully vaccinated, said she is worried about those who are not immunized and the people who work at the store.
Margaret Seaver, a retired school nurse, emphasized the rapid spread of measles and the dangers it poses to unvaccinated individuals.
“It’s devastating for the non-immunized,” said Seaver. “We had one case in the high school when I was a high school nurse back in the early ’90s, then we had multiple cases of that as a result.”
Steps to Prevent Further Spread
Health officials are working with UNC Health Johnston and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to identify and contact those who may have been exposed. They will determine if individuals are immune and provide guidance on reducing the risk of further spread.
The Health Department does not recommend laboratory testing for people who were exposed unless they develop symptoms. Ninety-five percent of the community needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Wake County currently has a 94% vaccination rate.
People who are not vaccinated or unsure of their status should review their records, monitor for symptoms, and contact Wake County Public Health for guidance at (919) 250-4462.
Understanding Measles Symptoms
Measles is a respiratory disease that spreads through the air by coughing and sneezing, or through contact with secretions from an infected person. The virus can remain active in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left.
Symptoms usually appear 7-14 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days to show. These include:
- High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- 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, spreads to the trunk, arms, and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
Prevention and Vaccination
“Measles spreads easily, but it is also preventable,” said Rebecca Kaufman, Wake County Public Health Director. “The MMR vaccine has been used for decades and is both safe and highly effective. If you or your child is not up to date on vaccinations, now is the time to get protected. Vaccination not only protects you, but it also protects infants, older adults, and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to serious complications.”
Those who were exposed are advised to monitor symptoms until at least Feb. 27.
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