Caldwell County health officials urge vaccination as regional measles outbreak spreads

At a public information session, Caldwell County Health Department officials urged residents to confirm their vaccinations and take simple precautions as the county contends with a seasonal rise in influenza and a measles outbreak in a neighboring state.

Health officials said regional emergency‑department visits for influenza‑like illness rose sharply beginning around Thanksgiving, peaked near Dec. 28 and began to decline in the first week of 2026. "We have had over 1,800 positive cases of the flu" locally in clinics, urgent cares and emergency departments this season, a county health educator said.

The briefing focused on measles after recent reports out of South Carolina. "Measles is one of our most infectious communicable diseases," said Chad Barr, communicable disease and tuberculosis nurse for the Caldwell County Health Department. Barr cited South Carolina public‑health reports that cases rose from 185 on Jan. 2 to 434 by Jan. 13 and said North Carolina had reported five cases tied to that outbreak. He urged residents to verify measles immunity before traveling to affected areas.

Officials outlined how to recognize measles and what to do if exposure is suspected. "Measles begins with what we call in the medical field a prodromal stage, which is your early phase," said Stephanie Feimster, an infection prevention nurse with UNC, describing two to four days of cold‑like symptoms that can include Koplik spots in the mouth. Feimster said individuals are contagious from four days before the rash until four days after it appears, which makes early identification and isolation critical.

Barr described vaccine effectiveness and quarantine rules: the first dose of MMR provides about 93% protection, and two doses raise effectiveness to about 97%. He said people who cannot provide proof of measles immunity and are identified as close contacts would be offered the MMR vaccine but also required to quarantine from others for 21 days.

For seasonal respiratory illnesses more broadly, officials stressed vaccination, hand hygiene and staying home when sick. "Hand hygiene is the number one thing we can do to prevent the spread of respiratory illness," a health educator said, and speakers recommended covering coughs, avoiding close contact with ill people, wearing masks when recommended, and isolating if diagnosed. They also noted treatment depends on the cause: antivirals are sometimes used for influenza, antibiotics for bacterial infections such as pertussis, and most viral illnesses run their course in about seven to 10 days.

Officials directed residents to local providers and the North Carolina Vaccines for Children website for vaccine information and locations, and left contact information for the Caldwell County Health Department for follow up. "If you have questions about our topics today, about respiratory illness, measles, feel free to reach out to us at the health department," Barr said, providing the department phone number as (828) 426‑8534.

The county health staff said they will continue outreach and encouraged residents to check immunization records, seek vaccination if needed, and contact health providers before visiting urgent cares or emergency departments if measles is suspected so facilities can take precautions to avoid exposing others.