A traveler may have exposed fellow diners to measles at a restaurant in Gastonia, state health officials said Saturday.
Anyone at Constantine’s Restaurant, 1825 S. New Hope Road, after 8:30 p.m. Dec. 26 may have been exposed and should monitor for symptoms until Jan. 16, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Those with symptoms should immediately contact their local health department and stay at home unless seeking medical care, officials said.
Call ahead before visiting a doctor or an emergency room so the provider can take steps to prevent exposure to others, the state said.
Officials didn’t say how many diners and workers at the restaurant may have been exposed. The restaurant is popular for its Turkish, Greek and Italian cuisines.
“To protect the individual’s privacy, no additional information about this case will be released,” the department’s news release stated.
The infected person also visited Christmas Town USA in the eastern Gaston County town of McAdenville but did not go indoors there, NC health officials said.
That means the risk of transmission of measles is low to others who attended the annual display of holiday lights and decorations, according to a news release by NCDHHS.
NC health officials also recently reported a child in Polk County contracted measles late in December, the second detected case in North Carolina during 2025 until Saturday’s announcement.
The Polk County case is believed to stem from an ongoing outbreak in upstate South Carolina, which has seen 179 measles cases since July, according to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, the News & Observer reported.
Meanwhile, the state urges measles vaccinations for all children 1 and older. Infectious disease experts around North Carolina have warned that an outbreak similar to South Carolina’s is a matter of time.
“Getting vaccinated against measles continues to be the most important step we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” Dr. Zack Moore, epidemiologist for DHHS said recently. “It is important to check with your health care provider to ensure you are current with all your vaccines.”
In December, DHHS reported that a person traveling through Raleigh-Durham International Airport had contracted measles, potentially exposing nearby in Terminal 2. How to recognize measles
Symptoms for measles can show up seven to 21 days after exposure.
They include:
High fevers
Runny nose
Cough
Red, watery eyes
White spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of mouth
A red, raised and blotchy rash that starts on the face and progresses down the body
The Centers for Disease Control reported more than 2,000 measles cases in 44 states nationwide as of the end of December.
