Durham officials warn of possible measles exposure

Officials are conducting additional tests to determine if the person has measles, which would be the first confirmed case in North Carolina in recent memory.

The person may have been infectious while at Bean Traders, at 105 W. N.C. Highway 54 in Durham from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

There is no ongoing risk for people who have visited or want to visit Bean Traders outside of that time period, officials said.

Measles is a highly contagious illness that is spread through coughing, sneezing and contact with secretions from the nose, mouth and throat of an infected person.

Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, a cough, a runny nose and watery, red eyes. The second stage begins around the third to seventh day, when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads over the entire body.

Officials urge anyone who was at the coffee shop on Monday and hasn't been vaccinated or is pregnant or has a compromised immune system to call the Durham County Department of Public Health at 919-560-HELP.

In a statement on Facebook, Bean Traders said the coffee shop learned of the possible exposure Saturday.

"We were NEVER contacted by anyone about the possibility of someone maybe having measles and coming into our shop until today," the statement said. "We would have alerted our customers to look for symptoms. This person came in our shop Monday so rest assured there is NO present risk to our patrons for coming in our shop other than the general risk of being in a community space."

Officials said people should be watchful for any symptoms through July 1.

Anyone who shows first-stage symptoms should stay home to reduce the risk of exposing others, officials said. If second-stage symptoms develop, call a primary physician to discuss care, officials said, warning people not to go to the office or an emergency room to avoid exposing others.

Measles is preventable through the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine. Two doses are recommended for most individuals, with the first dose given at age 12-15 months and the second prior to kindergarten. One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective against measles, and two doses of MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective.

"Measels is still a very rare infection," said Arlene Seña, medical director at the Durham County Health Department. "Typically it can occur in unvaccinated individuals, including infants."