Measles exposure incident reported at RDU airport, state health agency says
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- DHHS reports measles case linked to RDU Terminal 2 travel on Dec. 10.
- Anyone at Terminal 2 between 4–8 a.m. on Dec. 10 should monitor symptoms.
- CDC and WHO show U.S., global measles rises; DHHS urges MMR vaccine.
A person who traveled through Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Dec. 10 has a confirmed case of measles, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.
The person, whose name was not released, lives in another state, DHHS said in a statement. Anyone who was at Terminal 2 between 4 and 8 a.m. Dec. 10 “could have been exposed to measles and should monitor for measles-like symptoms until Jan. 1,” DHHS said.
Symptoms can take up to 21 days after exposure to appear but usually begin seven to 14 days after, DHHS said. They include:
- High fever (may spike to 104 degrees or higher)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik spots) two to three days after symptoms begin
- A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
What is measles?
Measles is an airborne virus and one of world’s most contagious diseases, according to the World Health Organization).
It can cause complications like blindness, severe diarrhea and encephalitis — an infection that can cause the brain to swell and damage it.
Globally, WHO estimates that 95,000 people died from measles in 2024 — most of whom were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children 5 years old or younger. DHHS recommends that all adults and children 1 year and older get the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
At least 1,912 Americans in 43 states have contracted measles this year as of Dec. 9, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the most measles cases since the MMR vaccine became widely available in the 1990s, DHHS said.
No North Carolina residents have contracted measles in 2025, DHHS said. In June, a child from another country with a recent measles outbreak traveled to North Carolina and was confirmed to have the virus.
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 4:37 PM.
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