Raleigh Health Brief: Measles Exposure Alert and WakeMed Updates

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Raleigh, NC – February 19, 2026 – Measles exposure sites, WakeMed lifts visitor limits, and a foster-care health plan expands local support.

Measles exposure sites flagged in Raleigh

Local health officials are urging Raleigh residents to stay alert after potential measles exposure was linked to several stops in the Brier Creek area earlier this month. The key message: if you are fully vaccinated with the MMR series, the risk of getting sick after an exposure is much lower, but it is still smart to watch for symptoms.

The exposure notice referenced visits to these Raleigh-area locations during specific afternoon and evening time windows:

  • O2 Fitness (Alexander Promenade Place)
  • Walgreens (Strickland Road)
  • Everbowl (Alexander Promenade Place)
  • Harris Teeter (Strickland Road)
  • Harris Teeter (Creedmoor Road)

Measles can spread through the air and can linger for a period of time after an infected person leaves. Typical symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, and a later-appearing rash. If you are unvaccinated, pregnant, immunocompromised, or have an infant too young for routine MMR, consider calling your clinician or the county health department for guidance. If you develop symptoms, call ahead before going to urgent care or the ER so staff can reduce exposure to others.

WakeMed lifts seasonal visitation restrictions

WakeMed announced it has returned to normal visitation across its hospitals and patient care areas, including allowing children under 12 to visit again. The system tied the change to a recent decline in respiratory illnesses in the community and reminded visitors to stay home if they have symptoms of a contagious illness.

New statewide support for children in foster care

WakeMed also shared that it has signed on to North Carolina’s Children and Families Specialty Plan, a statewide Medicaid managed care plan designed to coordinate medical and mental health care for children, youth, and young adults involved with the child welfare system. The plan is managed by Blue Cross NC under the name Healthy Blue Care Together and is intended to help families maintain continuity of care even when placements change.

What you can do this week

If you are unsure about your vaccination status, ask your primary care provider about checking your records. If you have a household member at higher risk (infants, pregnancy, immune compromise), it can help to plan ahead for how you will seek care quickly if symptoms appear. And if you are visiting someone in the hospital, postpone your visit when you are sick, even if symptoms feel mild.

Sources

  • https://www.wral.com/news/local/wake-county-potential-measles-exposure-raleigh-february-2026/
  • https://www.wakemed.org/news/wakemed-lifts-visitation-restrictions-1
  • https://www.wakemed.org/news/wakemed-joins-statewide-effort-provide-medical-and-mental-health-care-children-foster-care
  • https://www.healthybluenc.com/
  • https://www.cdc.gov/measles/

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