As measles cases continue to rise across North Carolina and the surrounding region, it’s important for practice staff and managers to be equipped with clear, up‑to‑date information. This guidance combines essential material from the Measles Patient FAQ (Jan. 15, 2026) and reporting from North Carolina Health News, tailored specifically for frontline teams and leaders working to maintain high‑quality, safe clinical environments.
We encourage all practices to review the details below and share them with their teams.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads quickly in unvaccinated populations. Early symptoms include:
Measles can cause severe complications—especially among children, older adults, and immunocompromised patients—making early identification essential in clinical settings.
The measles virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Approximately 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed will become infected. [Debrief Re...Ethics_v2 | PowerPoint]
Given this high infectivity, even a brief clinic exposure may require rapid response and coordinated communication with public health partners.
Recent reporting from North Carolina Health News highlights a continued rise in statewide measles cases, many linked to the ongoing outbreak in Spartanburg County, SC. Key takeaways include:
For practice leaders, this underscores the importance of reinforcing vaccination outreach, screening protocols, and rapid response workflows.
Vaccination remains the strongest protection.
Most adults with two documented doses do not need a booster; those uncertain should speak with their provider. Immunity testing is not recommended for those with two recorded doses. [Debrief Re...Ethics_v2 | PowerPoint]
Providers may consider early second doses or early infant vaccination (6–12 months), depending on risk. [Measles Patient FAQ | PDF]
Your local health department determines what meets the criteria for exposure.
When coaching your teams, emphasize:
If measles is suspected, have families call before arrival so your clinic can prepare isolation precautions. [Measles Patient FAQ | PDF]
There is no antiviral treatment for measles. Vitamin A may be used in treatment after infection but does not prevent illness. Only the MMR vaccine prevents disease. [wunc.org]
Practices should reinforce workflows for:
To support your quality improvement efforts, we encourage you and your teams to watch this short webinar on measles preparedness:
👉 Webinar: Measles Overview & Preparedness Strategies
Include this resource in your next staff meeting or circulate it through internal communication channels.
As your AHEC Practice Support team, we encourage practices to:
Measles remains highly preventable, and strong practice‑level systems make a meaningful difference in patient and community safety.
If you’d like help conducting a workflow assessment, staff training, or readiness review, your NC AHEC Practice Support coach is here to help.