Measles continues to spread in Western North Carolina, where Buncombe County confirmed another infection this week, bringing the county’s total to six since December. The update comes as the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports 11 confirmed measles cases statewide. Other cases have been reported in Polk and Rutherford counties, as well as Cabarrus County, near Charlotte.
During a media briefing Tuesday, county health officials said the newest local case involves a child who was exposed in Mission Hospital’s emergency department in Asheville. Buncombe County Public Health Director Ellis Matheson noted that this differs from earlier infections that were linked to an ongoing outbreak in upstate South Carolina.
“We are now seeing community spread because we know we have seen it from one person to another within our county,” Matheson said. “Do I think that we are going to get to outbreak status? I do.”…