Johnston County Confirms First Measles Case Since 2018  

February 11, 2026

 

For Immediate Release:

 

 

Smithfield, NC –  The 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’s first confirmed measles case since 2018.

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.

“As soon as the patient arrived, our emergency department team quickly masked and moved the patient to a negative-pressure room to limit exposure,” said Tom Williams, CEO of UNC Health Johnston. “They followed all procedures and protocols."

“We are prepared,” he added. “Our physicians work closely with infectious disease experts and others across the UNC Health system. We’ve applied lessons learned from the pandemic and work hard to ensure we’re ready to care for patients while protecting our teammates and the community.”

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 “Check Your Immunity” tool on the NCDHHS website.

“As we saw during previous outbreaks and natural disasters, the residents of our County support and care for one another,” said Dr. Marilyn Pearson, Johnston County Public Health Director. “This 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.”

Johnston County Public Health is located at 517 N. Brightleaf Blvd. in Smithfield. For more information about measles call our hotline at 919-989-5550, visit the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website.