Two measles cases confirmed in Mecklenburg County
One adult and one unvaccinated child are isolating at home, health officials said
The following article appeared in the January 23, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Measles in Mecklenburg: Two cases confirmed Thursday
Health officials on Thursday confirmed two cases of measles in Mecklenburg County — one in an adult and one in an unvaccinated child — both tied to exposure outside the county.
The cases come as measles continues to surface in North Carolina and across the country, a rise health experts link to slipping vaccination rates.
The Mecklenburg County child was in contact with a child from Spartanburg, S.C., where more than 600 have been infected in a fast-spreading outbreak that started in December, according to a Mecklenburg County news release. That child is isolating at home, and health officials are still investigating to determine possible contacts, the release said.
The adult was exposed “via travel,” the release said, and is also isolating at home. The department’s contact investigation process into that case is complete. To protect privacy, the health department said it would share no other information about the cases.
Nationally, there were 2,144 confirmed cases of measles in 2025, the highest number of cases in decades. In North Carolina, 11 other cases have been confirmed since mid-December, including two in Cabarrus County. —Michelle Crouch
Related Ledger article:
➡️ Four things you need to know about the measles, including symptoms to watch for and whether you might need a booster.
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