Health Officials Warn of Measles in Mecklenburg County
With vaccination rates declining, once-eliminated virus detected in local wastewater
Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) reported Monday that measles has been detected during routine wastewater surveillance in a sample from the Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility. While no cases have currently been identified in Mecklenburg, this recent detection implies that the viral illness is present among our population.
An MCPH release on Monday morning stated that the agency continues to investigate and monitor the situation as cases have recently been reported in North Carolina as well as a measles outbreak of more than 300 cases that is ongoing in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The Mecklenburg County Public Health Immunization Clinic is offering walk-in-services for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at all four clinic locations across the county.
“Vaccination remains the best tool we have to prevent illness and protect our community from a large-scale outbreak,” said MCPH Director Dr. Raynard Washington. “With measles detected in the county’s wastewater, now is the time to make sure your kids are up to date on their vaccines as cases continue to rise in the Carolinas and across the country. The measles vaccine is safe and highly effective.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 2,144 confirmed cases of measles in the United States in 2025, the highest number of cases since 1991. As of Jan. 9, 2026, there have been five recently reported cases in North Carolina — in Polk, Buncombe, and Rutherford counties. The last confirmed case in Mecklenburg County was in 2024.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the US eliminated measles in 2000 but, as conspiracy theories and misinformation surrounding vaccines have spread across the country in recent years, vaccination rates have gone down and measles cases have gone up.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that, during the 2024-25 school year, coverage for MMR; diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP); polio; and varicella vaccines decreased among kindergartners. MMR vaccination coverage was just 92.5%, well below the 95% threshold needed to prevent transmission of measles virus.
“With the risk of measles exposure increasing, vaccination remains our strongest and most effective defense,” said Dr. Zack Moore, state epidemiologist with the NC Department of Health & Human Services. “Measles is highly contagious, but it is also preventable. We urge anyone who is not fully vaccinated to take action now to protect themselves, their families, and our community.”
Measles is a viral illness that spreads easily and can have serious health complications. The symptoms of measles include a fever, runny nose, cough, rash and red eyes.
The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where an infected person was present. Symptoms of the virus usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure.
MCPH calls on anyone who experiences symptoms of the virus to call their doctor, clinic or emergency department immediately, and to call the health care facility before they go to get instructions to prevent further spread.
Around 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected and about one in five people in the United States who get measles will be hospitalized, according to the MCPH release.
Read more: Child Immunization Rates Dip During COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
Health officials recommend that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine — the first at 12-15 months of age and the second at 4-6 years of age. One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses is 97% effective, according to MCPH.
If you previously received the recommended measles vaccine, you do not need a booster. MCPH suggests that those who are not sure whether you should get a dose of measles vaccine, talk with your health care provider.
The MMR vaccine is widely available at health care providers and retail pharmacies across Mecklenburg County, and is offered for free or low-cost at the Mecklenburg County Public Health Immunization Clinic. MCPH’s mobile health unit will be providing vaccines on-site at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools locations with parental consent throughout the rest of the school year.
