Hays County warns of possible measles exposure in San Marcos
A Gaines Co. resident who tested positive for measles may have exposed people in San Marcos on Feb. 14, 2025.
Individuals who were at Texas State University from approximately 3 to 7 p.m. and Twin Peaks Restaurant from 6 to 10 p.m. may be at risk of developing measles due to exposure to this individual.
HAYS COUNTY, Texas - The Hays County Health Department was notified about the potential for exposure of residents to a person who tested positive for measles by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
The person who tested positive for measles is a Gaines County resident who visited San Marcos on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Individuals who were at Texas State University from approximately 3 to 7 p.m. and Twin Peaks Restaurant from 6 to 10 p.m. may be at risk of developing measles due to exposure to this individual.
Since late January, 90 cases of measles have been identified across seven counties, with 16 people being hospitalized, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
What they're saying
"Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. Texas is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of measles in decades," said Hays County Local Health Authority John Turner, MD. "Individuals who have not been vaccinated are at greater risk of infection. To minimize the risk of infection and serious illness, individuals should make sure they are vaccinated."
"The Hays County Health Department is acting with haste to ensure the readiness and preparedness of partner agencies in response to this notification," said Hays County Judge Ruben Beccera. "The county has taken great strides to improve our response to public health emergencies. I am confident that the department will be capable of minimizing the impact of a potential measles outbreak in our county. I will work with the [health] department and Office of Emergency Services to offer additional resources as needed."
For more information visit: https://www.hayscountytx.gov/current-public-health-situations. The site will continue to be updated as more information is available.
Why you should care
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Illness onset (high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes) begins a week or two after someone is exposed. A few days later, the telltale rash breaks out as flat, red spots on the face and then spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body.
A person is contagious about four days before the rash appears to four days after. People with measles should stay home from work or school during that period.
Common symptoms for measles include:
High fever (as high as 105°F)
Cough
Runny nose
Red and watery eyes
Tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin
Rash 3-5 days after other signs of illness. The "measles rash" typically starts at the face and then spreads down to the rest of the body.
Gaines County is about 370 miles directly west of Dallas, near the Texas-New Mexico border. It is about 87 miles southwest of Lubbock.
The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.
Some vaccinated people can occasionally develop measles; however, they generally experience milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the disease to other people.
If you think you have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles, isolate yourself from others and call your healthcare provider before arriving to be tested so they can prepare for your arrival without exposing other people to the virus. Measles is extremely contagious and can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is not protected against the virus. Review your and your child's vaccination history to see if you are up-to-date on your measles vaccines. Additionally, discuss with your provider your vaccination history and any questions about these vaccines.
People with confirmed or suspected measles should stay home from school, work, and other group settings until after the fourth day of rash onset.
During an outbreak, people without documented immunity from vaccination or previous measles infection should be isolated from anyone with measles to protect those without immunity and control the outbreak.
According to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule §97.7, schools and childcare settings shall exclude unimmunized children for at least 21 days after the last date the unimmunized child was exposed to a measles case.
The Source
Information in this article comes from the Hays County Health Department and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
20 hours ago
- New York Times
A 1990 Measles Outbreak Shows How the Disease Can Roar Back
Few expected a major return of measles to the United States this year, a quarter-century after it was declared eliminated here. But return it has, with more than 1,300 confirmed cases this year and three deaths. Public health officials say they have seen nothing like it since the winter of 1990 to 1991, when measles last swept the country. For some, like Justin Johnson, who was 12 in that epidemic year, it was an eerie time. Schools closed and doctors showed up at families' homes, including his, to examine children. He was one of 13 children in a joyful and loving Philadelphia family who ate dinner together every night around a huge table. Mr. Johnson, now 46 and living in Lancaster, Pa., was the first in his family to get measles. Then the disease spread to his siblings. Some of them did not survive. He was part of a major outbreak in Philadelphia that winter. The disease first spread among poor children in the inner city and then ravaged children whose families were members of a church. The death rate was so high — one in 35 as compared with the usual one in 1,000 — that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a team to see if the virus had mutated. Mr. Johnson's close-knit family was part of that church. From Local to National Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
20 hours ago
- CBS News
Wisconsin officials report potential measles exposure at 2 travel stops
Officials say a traveler from out of state who visited two Wisconsin gas stations may have exposed others to measles. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said the potential exposures affect those who were at the Flying J Travel Center in Roberts and the Pilot Travel Center in Beloit on Aug. 4. The exposure window for Flying J was 7:15 a.m. to 10 a.m., while those at Pilot may have been exposed between 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Health officials urge anyone who may have been exposed to confirm their immunization status. Symptoms of the disease include a runny nose, high fever, tiredness, cough, irritation and discoloration of the eyes and a red rash with raised bumps. Anyone exposed on Aug. 4 would likely see symptoms by Aug. 25, the health department said. Anyone with symptoms is asked to avoid public places and notify their doctor. Wisconsin has seen nine cases of measles so far this year, all of them in Oconto County in July. Five cases have been reported in Minnesota this year. Health officials in that state say declining vaccination rates are leading to a rise in measles cases. In 2019, more than 92% of Minnesota kindergarteners were fully vaccinated. In 2024, that number had decreased to 87%. Last year, there were 70 cases in Minnesota, about one-third of the total cases in the state since 2010.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
Largest measles outbreak in US is officially over, health officials say
The measles outbreak in Texas has officially ended. In a Monday press release, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported the end of the outbreak, which centered in West Texas. The announcement was made after no new cases had been reported for more than 42 days in counties that had previously shown evidence of ongoing transmission. As of August 18, a total of 762 measles cases have been confirmed in Texas since the outbreak began in late January. One of the first cases was in Gaines County, where a total of 414 infections were reported. The virus has spread across the U.S. during 2025, marking a total of 1,356 confirmed cases in the country as of August 5, according to the CDC. More than two-thirds of Texas cases affected school-aged children. A total of 99 people were hospitalized and two children died. In a statement, DSHS Commissioner Jennifer A. Shuford, M.D., highlighted the "tireless work" of public health professionals across Texas, who "contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses." "We arrived at this point through a comprehensive outbreak response that included testing, vaccination, disease monitoring and educating the public about measles through awareness campaigns," Shuford added. "I also want to recognize the many healthcare professionals who identified and treated cases of a virus that most providers had never seen in person before this outbreak." Forty-two days is double the disease's maximum incubation period, according to DSHS, which is why experts consider the outbreak to be over. But the threat of measles still looms, as ongoing outbreaks exist in North America and other areas of the world, which will "likely" lead to additional measles cases in Texas this year. "Healthcare providers should continue to be vigilant and test for measles if their patient has symptoms compatible with the virus," the DSHS wrote in a press release. "Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness, which can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is not protected against the virus." About one in five children who get sick will require hospitalization during a measles outbreak, and one in 20 will develop pneumonia, according to state health officials. In rare cases, measles can lead to brain swelling and death, as well as pregnancy complications. The best way to prevent measles is through vaccination, per the guidance of DSHS and other public health experts. This includes two doses of a measles-containing immunization, primarily administered as the MMR vaccine. "It's a factor of several times more contagious," he said, noting that one infected person can impact about 10 to 15 other people. For more Health articles, visit To protect against infection, Whyte emphasized the need to be aware of your surroundings and wear a mask in areas where cases have been detected. He also recommends practicing "good handwashing" after touching surfaces, as well as keeping surfaces clean, as virus droplets can stick and spread when contact is made.
