North Carolina health officials are warning diners of a possible measles exposure after a traveler who later tested positive visited a popular restaurant in Gastonia late last month.
According to a report from The Charlotte Observer, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) said Saturday, Jan. 3, that anyone who was at Constantine's Restaurant after 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. Officials advised those individuals to monitor for symptoms through Jan. 16.
State health officials urged anyone who develops symptoms to immediately contact their local health department and remain at home unless seeking medical care. Patients are also advised to call ahead before visiting a doctor's office or emergency room so providers can take precautions to prevent additional exposure.
Constantine's Restaurant did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
Officials did not disclose how many diners or restaurant workers may have been affected. Constantine's is known locally for its Turkish, Greek and Italian cuisine.
"To protect the individual's privacy, no additional information about this case will be released," NCDHHS said in a statement.
The infected individual also visited Christmas Town USA, the annual holiday lights display in McAdenville, according to the agency. However, officials said the person did not go indoors during that visit, making the risk of transmission to others low.
The exposure alert comes amid heightened concern about measles activity in the region. State officials recently confirmed that a child in Polk County contracted measles in late December, marking the second detected case in North Carolina in 2025 before the recent announcement, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Health officials believe the Polk County case is linked to an ongoing outbreak in upstate South Carolina, which has recorded 179 measles cases since July. In December, Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) also reported a measles exposure involving a traveler passing through Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Measles symptoms can appear between seven and 21 days after exposure and may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth and a red blotchy rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward.
State officials continue to urge vaccination, emphasizing it as the most effective protection. "Getting vaccinated against measles continues to be the most important step we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones," said Dr. Zack Moore, an epidemiologist with NCDHHS.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 2,000 measles cases nationwide across 44 states as of the end of December.