By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
ASHEVILLE, NC — State and local health officials have issued a measles exposure notice after an out‑of‑state individual traveled through western North Carolina while infectious, including a stop at a hotel along Smokey Park Highway in Asheville.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Buncombe County Health and Human Services confirmed that the traveler was contagious during their time in the region. No identifying details are being released to protect the individual’s privacy.
Officials say the potential exposure window at the Holiday Inn Express, 435 Smokey Park Highway, occurred on August 26 between 1:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A linked exposure site was also identified in Hendersonville at the Exxon station at 1920 Four Seasons Boulevard on August 25 from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m.
Residents in Brunswick and Columbus counties are not in the affected area, but state officials note that anyone who traveled through western North Carolina during the listed dates could fall within the exposure window.
The advisory is being shared statewide because measles can spread through travel, and individuals from coastal counties routinely pass through Asheville and Hendersonville during late‑summer trips.
Measles is an airborne virus that can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Health officials advise anyone who was present at either location during the listed times to monitor for symptoms through mid‑September. The typical symptom window ranges from 7 to 21 days after exposure.
Symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, white spots inside the mouth, and a blotchy rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. Individuals who develop symptoms are urged to stay home and contact their local health department or medical provider before arriving in person.
North Carolina has not reported any measles cases since February 2026, following a cluster of cases earlier in the year. State officials continue to encourage MMR vaccination for anyone who is unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status.
A regional advisory remains in effect for residents and travelers who may have passed through the affected locations during the exposure windows.
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