The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced that two locations in western North Carolina—an Exxon gas station in Hendersonville and a Holiday Inn Express in Asheville—are potential measles exposure sites. The alert follows the travel of an individual from another state who was contagious while passing through the area.
Details of the exposure sites
Patrons who were present at the Exxon station located at 1920 Four Seasons Boulevard in Hendersonville on August 25 between 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. are advised to watch for measles symptoms through September 15. Likewise, anyone who visited the Holiday Inn Express at 435 Smokey Park Highway in Asheville on August 26 between 1:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. should monitor for signs of infection through September 16.
Both the gas station and the hotel have been cooperating fully with health departments in Buncombe and Henderson counties to notify staff and customers about the possible exposure.
Public health context and guidance
Dr. Emma Doran, medical director for vaccine‑preventable and respiratory diseases at NCDHHS, explained that the traveler was identified through communication with health officials in the individual’s home state. “The epidemiologist from another state reached out to us and said, ‘We have an individual with a case of measles, and they shared their travel itinerary with us,'” Doran said.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can linger in a space for up to two hours after the person leaves. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure, but can emerge as late as 21 days. Common signs include high fever (often above 104°F), cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, Koplik spots inside the mouth, and a red, blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads outward.
Dr. Doran emphasized that there is currently no risk of ongoing contagion at the Asheville hotel. “At this point, there’s no concern about the hotel being infectious in any way,” she said.
Vaccination rates and broader outbreak trends
The department noted that North Carolina recorded 24 measles cases between December 2025 and February 2026, with seven of those cases occurring in Buncombe County. No new cases have been reported in the state since February.
Nationally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,887 measles cases as of August 27, 2026, the highest annual total since the early 1990s when the second dose of the MMR vaccine became widely administered.
Dr. Doran warned that declining MMR vaccination rates, especially among school‑age children, leave pockets of the population vulnerable. “Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing measles,” she said. “If you’re vaccinated, the risk of developing measles, even after being in the same location as an infected person, is very low.” She advised anyone who is unsure of their vaccination status to consult a health‑care provider.
Health officials have not yet determined whether the identified exposures will result in additional cases. They recommend that anyone who develops measles‑like symptoms contact their local health department, stay home, and call ahead before seeking medical care to allow providers to take appropriate precautions.
Helene Elliott is the Lead Science & Space Reporter at News Raise. She reports on aerospace missions, astrophysics discoveries, quantum research, and environmental technology.
