The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) Division of Public Health have been informed of a measles case in a resident of another state who traveled through Asheville while infectious. To protect the individual’s privacy, no additional information about this case will be released.
Anyone who was at the Holiday Inn Express, 435 Smokey Park Highway in Asheville on Aug. 26 from 1 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., may have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms until September 16, 2026. The hotel has been fully cooperating with BCHHS to ensure guests and staff are aware of the potential exposure. If symptoms develop, please contact your local health department right away and stay at home unless seeking medical care. Call ahead before visiting the doctor or emergency room so steps can be taken to prevent exposure to others.
Public health officials are recommending all unvaccinated individuals ages one year and older receive measles vaccination to protect themselves and those around them. Measles vaccine is also recommended for infants 6-11 months who will be traveling internationally or to areas with active measles outbreaks. The NCDHHS measles immunity checker tool is available for those who are unsure whether they have protection against measles.
As of August 27, 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2,887 people from 47 jurisdictions as confirmed measles cases so far this year. This is the highest number of measles cases reported in the U.S. since the second dose of MMR vaccine became widely used in the early 1990s. Twenty-four cases of measles were identified in North Carolina from December 2025 to February 2026. No measles cases have been reported in North Carolina since February.
Measles is a respiratory disease that is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. It can also be transmitted through contact with secretions from the nose or mouth of an infected person. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may 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 face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
Measles can be prevented by the combination MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles, and it is recommended that all adults and children one year and older be up to date on their measles vaccine.
North Carolina residents can contact their health care provider or visit their local health department for additional information on ways to obtain the vaccine and schedule an appointment. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.
For more information about measles, please visit dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles.