March 11. Mecklenburg County Public Health is encouraging parents to make sure their children are up to date on their vaccines, especially the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, as national cases of measles rise.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 222 cases of measles have been reported from 12 states in 2025 (as of March 7) – including outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. There has been one death associated with the Texas outbreak and one death associated with the New Mexico outbreak. No cases have been reported in Mecklenburg County this year. Last year, there was a confirmed case in Mecklenburg County that was the first case of measles in North Carolina since 2018.

Measles is a viral illness that can have serious health complications and can easily spread. The symptoms of measles include a fever, runny nose, cough, rash and red eyes. Around 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected. And about one in five people in the United States who get measles will be hospitalized.

The CDC recommends that people of all ages keep up to date with their vaccinations. Children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine – the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose 4 through 6 years of age. One dose of the vaccine is 93 percent effective at preventing measles and two doses is 97 percent effective.