Mecklenburg County Public Health has issued a measles exposure notice for two locations in Charlotte. People who visited Vista Auction at 2500 Sardis Rd. on January 29 and 30 between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., or Lidl at 9318 Monroe Rd. on January 30 from 2 to 4:30 p.m., are advised to monitor themselves for symptoms of measles.
According to officials, these sites were not the source of infection and have since been deemed safe to visit. Both businesses are cooperating with the ongoing investigation by public health authorities.
“This exposure isn’t linked to any cases in Mecklenburg County – it is linked to a case from another jurisdiction,” the department stated. “There are currently 3 reported cases of measles in Mecklenburg County. Public Health continues to work with partners across jurisdictions to investigate and monitor the situation as measles cases are increasing across the Carolinas. When exposures of a case cannot be identified or contacted through the case investigation, public health will issue an exposure notice to protect health and prevent further spread.”
Measles is described as a viral illness that can lead to serious complications and spreads easily through air or contaminated surfaces, remaining infectious for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, rash, and red eyes.
“If you see symptoms of measles, call your doctor, clinic or emergency department right away,” officials said. “It’s important to call a healthcare facility before you go to get instructions to prevent further spread of measles.”
The county reports all confirmed cases and exposures on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ measles dashboard, which updates twice weekly.
The MMR vaccine is available at most healthcare providers and retail pharmacies throughout Mecklenburg County, including Public Health’s Immunization Clinic.
Enrollment figures show that Mecklenburg County schools had a total enrollment of 153,537 students during the 2022-23 school year; this represented a slight decrease of 0.4% compared with the previous year (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
