Measles Alert in Austin: What You Need to Know

A measles case has been confirmed in Austin, Texas. This isn't the first time measles has made an appearance in Texas, but it's the first time in Austin. The infected person is a young child who caught the virus while traveling abroad. The rest of the family is vaccinated, which is a good thing because measles is extremely contagious. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Up to 9 out of 10 people nearby can catch it if they aren't protected. The virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the infected person has left the area. The good news is that health officials have completed contact tracing and don't expect any more cases from this incident. The child and their family are isolating at home. This case isn't linked to the ongoing measles outbreak in the South Plains region of Texas, where 146 cases have been reported. Twenty people have been hospitalized, and sadly, one unvaccinated child has died. This is the first measles death in the U. S. in a decade. The MMR vaccine is highly effective in protecting against measles. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective. Health officials are urging everyone to get vaccinated if they haven't already. The concern is that Travis County's MMR vaccination rate among kindergarteners is just under 90%. Doctors say communities need 95% immunization rates to achieve herd immunity. Some schools have vaccination rates below 90%, which increases the risk of an outbreak by 51%. Health officials are working with school administrators to get more kids vaccinated. Kids can get their first dose of the MMR vaccine at one year old and the second dose between four and six years old. If a parent is traveling to an area where measles is prevalent, the child should be vaccinated earlier, at six to eleven months. Another concern is the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) event in Austin. Hundreds of thousands of people will be in downtown Austin, and health officials don't want it to become a super spreader event. They are encouraging those in the community who aren't vaccinated to get vaccinated. The city and health department are working with organizers on health precautions for the event. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reports that of the 146 cases, 98 have been reported in Gaines County, and 21 have been reported in nearby Terry County. Most of the cases have been among children. DSHS reports that 79 of the 146 patients were unvaccinated, 62 have unknown vaccination status, and five have received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. While there is no local outbreak right now, health officials are prepared for the worst but are hoping for the best. They have been in contact with hospital partners and clinics, and they are ready and prepared to handle people who may contact them saying that they have symptoms of measles. Health officials are urging everyone to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their community.