SMITHFIELD \u2013\u00a0\u00a0The Johnston County Public Health Department and UNC Health Johnston in Smithfield have confirmed a case of measles in an adult who lives in Johnston County. This is the County\u2019s first confirmed measles case since 2018.<\/p>\n
The Health Department is working with UNC Health Johnston and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to identify and contact people who might have been exposed. Officials will determine whether those individuals are immune to measles and discuss steps to reduce the risk of further spread. Health officials do not recommend laboratory testing for people who were exposed unless they develop symptoms, such as fever and rash.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as the patient arrived, our emergency department team quickly masked and moved the patient to a negative-pressure room to limit exposure,\u201d said Tom Williams, CEO of UNC Health Johnston. \u201cThey followed all procedures and protocols.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are prepared,\u201d he added. \u201cOur physicians work closely with infectious disease experts and others across the UNC Health system. We\u2019ve applied lessons learned from the pandemic and work hard to ensure we\u2019re ready to care for patients while protecting our teammates and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Measles is highly contagious but can be prevented through vaccination with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. The vaccine has proven effective for decades. Anyone unsure of their immunity status can use the\u00a0\u201cCheck Your Immunity\u201d tool<\/a>\u00a0on the NCDHHS website.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we saw during previous outbreaks and natural disasters, the residents of our County support and care for one another,\u201d said Dr. Marilyn Pearson, Johnston County Public Health Director. \u201cThis is another opportunity to come together to keep ourselves, our families, friends and neighbors safe and healthy. The health of our community is our highest priority, and we can all work together to stop the spread of measles. Please make sure you and your family members are immune. If you are not, contact your health care provider or the Johnston County Public Health Department to get vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n