South Carolina measles outbreak expands and Raleigh warns of exposures

The United States is facing its largest outbreak of measles in decades, and North Carolina health authorities are now warning of potential exposures in Raleigh and Durham. Wake County health authorities alerted that a contagious person visited five locations around northwest Raleigh last week: Brier Creek (O2 Fitness and Everbowl), Strickland Road (Harris Teeter, Walgreens), and Creedmoor Road (Harris Teeter). South Durham has several potential exposures as well: Garret Road (Goodwill), Woodcroft (Chubby's Tacos), and Southpoint (Plato's Closet). North Carolina is up to 18 cases in this outbreak, many spilling over from South Carolina. Measles is highly contagious, and generally hits unvaccinated children the hardest. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who contract it are hospitalized. As of Feb. 5, 2026, there have been 733 cases in the U.S. this year, following a record 2,276 cases in 2025.