Travis County measles case update: What to know about possible exposure.
The adult who became Travis County's second confirmed measles case of the year traveled in and out of the state on an airplane, local officials said Monday.
Dr. Desmar Walkes with the Austin-Travis County Health Authority said contact tracers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of State Health Services are contacting passengers who were on the same plane as the agencies work to determine where the Travis County-based adult contracted the highly contagious virus and if they could have spread it.
The person is only experiencing mild symptoms because they had received the measles vaccine, Walkes said.
'Those who are unvaccinated face severe symptoms that could lead to hospitalization and even death," Walkes, also the medical director for Austin Public Health, said at a news conference.
Measles poses such a high risk because 90% of people who are unvaccinated or do not have natural immunity will contract the virus if exposed to it. Two doses of the vaccine gives a person about 97% protection, according to Austin Public Health.
The first confirmed measles case to crop up in Austin this year was an unvaccinated infant who was exposed to the virus while traveling overseas, officials said in February. Children must be at least 1 year old to receive the vaccine.
The two measles cases are the first in Travis County since 2019 and come amid an ongoing outbreak in West Texas.
Local health officials have said the adult who contracted the virus visited several public places around the city earlier this month that are now considered exposure locations.
They include:
An office building at 300 Colorado St., from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16.
Maaribu coffee shop, 1413 South First St., from 8:45 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 17.
Curra's restaurant, 614 E. Oltorf St., from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17.
Starbucks, 1920 E. Riverside Drive from 10:08 a.m. to 12:08 p.m. Friday, April 18.
UPS Store, 2407 S. Congress Ave, Suite E, from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
Hestia restaurant, 607 W. Third St., No. 105, from 5:45-11 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
Walgreens, 1920 E. Riverside Drive, Building B, from 8:45 a.m. to noon Sunday, April 20.
Pueblo Viejo restaurant, 2410 E. Riverside Drive, Suite H-8, from 8:45 a.m. to noon, Sunday, April 20.
CareNow Urgent Care, 1920 E. Riverside Drive, Suite A110, from 8 a.m. to noon, Sunday, April 20.
Walkes said anyone who was present at the locations at the listed times should contact their healthcare provider to discuss possible exposure and monitor themselves for symptoms through May 11. Anyone who does not have a provider can call 512-972-5555 to be connected to care.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, rash, watery eyes, runny nose and small white spots inside the mouth and throat.
Austin Public Health is continuing to provide the measles vaccine (MMR vaccines: measles, mumps and rubella) at its mobile clinics, as well as brick and mortar locations.
'Vaccination is the best defense against this highly contagious and deadly disease,' Mayor Kirk Watson said at the Monday news conference.
Adults who have not been vaccinated previously can receive the MMR vaccine. A first dose provides about 93% protection after two weeks and a second dose provides about 97% protection.
Staff reporter Nicole Villalpando contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin-area measles case update: What to know about possible exposure.
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