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Here’s what to know—and do—about possible exposure.
As measles outbreaks are continuing to surge nationwide, local health organizations are monitoring the situation—and recommending the best ways to keep local cases to a minimum.
Health officials already confirmed exposure at five locations across Raleigh on Feb. 10, breaking the county’s measles-free streak that stretched back to 2016.
The week prior, an individual infected with measles made these stops:
- O2 Fitness near RDU; Feb. 5, 1:30pm to 5:15pm
- Everbowl near RDU; Feb. 5, 3:30pm to 5:45pm
- Harris Teeter off Strickland Road; Feb. 5, 5pm to 7:10pm
- Harris Teeter off Creedmoor Road; Feb. 5, 5:15pm to 7:35pm
- Walgreens off Strickland Road; Feb. 6, 3:30pm to 5:40pm
In good news, despite the visits to these establishments, no new cases in the area have been confirmed. According to the state, Wake County is technically still measles-free. But local residents should still be on high alert—and practice healthy hygienic habits.
If someone with measles coughs or sneezes nearby, and you’re not immune, you have a 90% chance of catching it. Read: You don’t even have to interact with the individual—if you are even in the same room, the risk is high. The virus can also hang in the air for up to two hours, meaning remnants of an hour-old cough can still infect you.
Vaccinated individuals, on the other hand, are most likely safe. Of the 24 cases confirmed across NC, 29% received only one dose of the MMR vaccine, while just 4% received two (aka the full dose for anyone older than 6). That said, be sure to keep an eye out for symptoms—including fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and the telltale rash—for 21 days after exposure.
If you crossed paths with measles and are unvaccinated, health officials recommend getting a check-up, calling your doctor ASAP and reporting the exposure. They’ll likely walk you through treatment options, such as the MMR vaccine or immune globulin, a medicine that can reduce risk if administered within six days of exposure. State health officials also ask that you stay home and monitor symptoms for 21 days.
Raleigh may be in the clear, but locals should still tread lightly. Our Carolinian counterpart just south has 668 confirmed cases* and counting—the most in the U.S. by about 400 cases—so further exposure is not unlikely. Frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes is highly recommended, and local health officials also note that if you or your child have never been vaccinated, now may be the time.
*As of press time
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