First case of measles confirmed in Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A case of measles was confirmed in Austin on Friday, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said during a press conference.
This is the first case of measles in Austin since 2019, the Austin Public Health Department said in a news release.
APH said the first case reported was in an unvaccinated infant. There were no exposures expected, and officials said all family members of the infant were vaccinated.
Officials said it’s believed the infant caught the disease while the family was traveling overseas.
“The time we’ve been preparing for is here,” Watson said during the press conference. “We need to do what we need to do to keep it from spreading.”
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. It can stay in the air and on surfaces for two hours, even after the infected person has left.
According to APH, the measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000. However, the virus is “still common in many parts of the world.”
“Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers who get measles while they are in other countries. These travelers are mostly Americans and sometimes international visitors,” APH said.
Typically, the first dose of the vaccine against measles is given to children between 12 and 15 months old, and the second is given between the ages of 4 and 6, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Young children, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised are more likely to experience complications,” APH said.
Symptoms appear seven to 14 days after contact with the measles, and APH has provided those common symptoms below:
- Fever
- Cough
- Rash
- Red, watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Small white spots inside the mouth and throat
Those who believe they may have been exposed should contact their healthcare provider, as well as isolate at home, according to APH.
“Measles can cause serious health complications and death, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis,” APH said.
This week, an unvaccinated school-aged child who was hospitalized with measles died, marking the first death in the current Texas outbreak.
“As measles has arrived in our community, I’m calling on everyone to make sure they’re protected against this vaccine-preventable disease,” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority, said in the release. “Leaving yourself unvaccinated means more than just a rash, measles can put you in the hospital and can even lead to death as we’ve seen already in Texas.”
APH said the best way to protect against getting the measles is to the get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
“Two doses of the MMR vaccine are required to receive full protection,” APH said.
Doctor offices and pharmacies offer the MMR vaccine. However, APH said children who are under the age of 14 will require a prescription from a doctor in order to receive that vaccine at a pharmacy. Additionally, the MMR vaccine is offered at Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics, which can be access on the city’s website.
