Potential measles exposure reported at Asheville hotel, NCDHHS says

Key Points:

• A measles case involving an out-of-state traveler passing through Asheville was reported by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), with potential exposure at the Holiday Inn Express on Smokey Park Highway on August 26, 2026.
• The hotel is cooperating with Buncombe County Health and Human Services to notify guests and staff, and individuals potentially exposed are advised to monitor for symptoms until September 16, 2026, and contact health authorities if symptoms develop.
• From December 2025 to February 2026, North Carolina recorded 24 measles cases, mostly among those 17 and younger, with 67% unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status; nationally, 2,887 confirmed cases have been reported in 2026, the highest since widespread MMR vaccination began in the 1990s.
• Public health officials recommend the MMR vaccine for all unvaccinated individuals over one year old and infants aged 6 to 11 months traveling internationally to outbreak areas, emphasizing the vaccine’s effectiveness and the contagious nature of measles.
• Measles symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, Koplik spots inside the mouth, and a spreading red rash starting on the face.