Shocking New Measles Outbreak: Are Your Kids at Risk? Find Out Why Vaccination is Urgent!

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is sounding the alarm as recent measles cases have surfaced across multiple counties, urging families to ensure their vaccinations are up to date. In the past week, four new pediatric measles cases have been reported, including one child in Polk County and three siblings in Buncombe County.

“People need to be aware the risk of being exposed is growing,” said Dr. Devdutta Sangvai, secretary for NCDHHS. “It’s also a reminder that measles can be very serious.” The NCDHHS reports that the children linked to these cases visited locations in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where a large ongoing measles outbreak is being tracked.

Notably, the child in Polk County was unvaccinated, while the three siblings in Buncombe County had received at least one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. To achieve complete protection against measles, two doses of the MMR vaccine are required, which are typically administered during childhood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that two doses of the vaccine provide 97% lifetime protection against serious infection.

Concerns about vaccination rates are warranted, especially as a recent NBC News data investigation revealed a steady decline in North Carolina’s vaccination compliance over the last several years. The state’s compliance rate dropped from 96% to 93.6% in just four years, a troubling statistic given that CDC data indicates 96% of the 2,000 reported measles cases in the U.S. in 2025 were among children who were not fully vaccinated, with the majority being under 19.

Dr. Kelly Kimple, director of the NCDHHS division of public health, warns that “about 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed will become infected,” emphasizing the critical nature of vaccination for protecting individuals, families, and communities in North Carolina. Community vaccination rates of at least 95% are needed to establish herd immunity against measles, yet most counties in North Carolina do not currently meet this benchmark.

Experts point to an increasing number of families seeking exemptions from vaccination requirements as a factor contributing to the decline in immunization rates. North Carolina allows both religious and medical exemptions for immunizations. Dr. Lori Langdon, a pediatrician in Harnett County and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, highlighted that many exemptions are not based on genuine religious beliefs but rather on parental hesitations often fueled by misinformation circulating on social media.

“Personally, I have tried to encourage many times for us in North Carolina to drop the title of religious exemption, because almost never is it religious,” Langdon stated. “It is philosophical and based on parents being nervous from this increase in vaccine hesitancy.” She encourages parents to engage in open conversations with licensed medical professionals rather than relying on social media for vaccine-related decisions.

According to the same NBC News investigation, Polk County has the highest nonmedical exemption rate in the state at 14.3%, while Buncombe County ranks among the top 10 with a 6.3% exemption rate. In contrast, Wake and Durham counties report much lower exemption rates of 2.4% each.

The current situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccinations in safeguarding public health. As measles outbreaks can be severe and contagious, the NCDHHS urges families across North Carolina to take action now by ensuring their vaccinations are up to date. The agency also provides resources for families to check vaccination rates for their counties and individual schools through the NC Measles Vaccination Data Dashboard.