Buncombe Confirms Sixth Measles Case; Possible Exposures at Food Lion, Mission Hospital

Buncombe County health officials confirmed a sixth measles case on Jan. 20, announcing that the patient is a child who is now in isolation. County investigators and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are working to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed.

Investigators listed two possible exposure locations and times: Food Lion at 35 Westridge Market Place in Candler on Jan. 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and the Mission Hospital Emergency Department waiting room at 509 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, on Jan. 16 from 5:15 to 7:50 p.m. and again from 10:00 p.m. to midnight. Health officials said they are contacting potentially exposed individuals and asked anyone who visited those locations during the listed times and has not been contacted to call Buncombe County Health and Human Services at 828-250-6100.

Measles is highly contagious and begins with symptoms that typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a rash that usually starts on the face and spreads. Symptoms can appear several days after exposure, and officials urged anyone who develops symptoms to call ahead to their health care provider or emergency department before going in so clinics can take steps to prevent further spread.

Public-health guidance reiterated that two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, or MMR, are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles. Health officials encouraged residents to check vaccination records for themselves and their children, and to contact their primary care provider or the county health department if they are unsure about immune status or need vaccination.

The new case follows a cluster of cases that began in December, bringing local public-health resources into active contact tracing and outreach. Officials are not releasing identifying details about the child to protect privacy while they complete investigations.

For residents, the immediate priorities are vigilance and prevention. Those who visited the specified Food Lion or Mission Hospital waiting room times should monitor for symptoms and follow the county’s instructions. People with underlying health conditions, infants too young to be vaccinated, or anyone unsure of their immunity should consult their health care provider promptly.

Health officials said more updates will be provided as investigators complete contact tracing. In the meantime, checking vaccination status, calling 828-250-6100 if exposed and calling ahead before seeking care remain the best steps for Buncombe County residents to limit further spread.