A measles outbreak with its highest number of cases clustered in West Texas and New Mexico since the surge began in January is spilling into South and Central Texas.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed a case of measles in Atascosa County, just south of San Antonio, on April 21, that was determined to be linked to the West Texas outbreak. The exposure was centered west of Poteet.
On Tuesday, another case in Kyle was confirmed.
With a population of about 63,000, Kyle is located in Hays County on the Interstate 35 corridor between San Marcos and Austin.
These cases are the closest San Antonio has come to a brush with the highly infectious disease since health authorities warned in late February that a West Texas resident diagnosed with measles spent a weekend visit in San Antonio.
Dr. Jason Bowling, an infectious disease specialist and chief epidemiologist at University Health, said that while he is glad there has not been a case in Bexar County, it wouldn’t take much given the outbreaks nationwide and how contagious the pathogen really is — many times more than the COVID-19 virus, for example.
Nationally, there are 1,024 confirmed measles cases so far this year.
“Thirty states have reported measles cases — that’s really high,” he said. “And globally, measles is higher right now, too. So that is concerning to me, that even though this measles case outbreak in Texas seems to be trickling down … it’s still worrisome that there are this many states involved, and most of these are imported cases,” originating from other areas.
“Anytime you have a case, there’s the risk that you’re going to have an intersection with a pocket of people or community that’s under-vaccinated, and you can have another flare-up.”
Measles can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is not protected against the virus. It is characterized by a flat red rash, and like other common respiratory illnesses, is accompanied by cough and congestion, watery eyes and fever.
During a measles outbreak, about 1 in 5 people who get sick will need medical care and 1 in 20 will develop pneumonia.
In children, measles can lead to ear infections and pneumonia. In about 1 in 1,000 cases, the measles virus can infect the brain and spinal cord and cause encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and result in coma and death.
Two children in Texas have already died in the last few months.
Health officials maintain that the safest and most effective way to prevent measles is through vaccination, which came into widespread use in the 1960s.
The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the MMR vaccine, for measles, mumps and rubella, be administered at 12 to 15 months of age, with a second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.
The recent deadly measles outbreak in Texas appears to have driven an increase in the number of people who are vaccinated against measles, according to data from DSHS.
Though the data is incomplete because most people have not opted in to the Texas immunization registry, more than 320,000 people statewide have received the MMR vaccine since the start of the year versus over 277,000 in the first six months of 2024.
In West Texas where the outbreak is concentrated, that number doubled, from just over 7,500 to over 13,600.
Vaccination rates in Atascosa County are among the highest in the state with 98.5% of kindergartners and 99% of seventh graders having received the MMR vaccine.
The rates are slightly lower in Hays County, with 95% of kindergartners and 96% of seventh graders. Adult vaccination rates are not available.
In San Antonio, health authorities are monitoring the outbreak, said a Metropolitan Health District spokeswoman, and continuing to educate the community about vaccines.
In April, due to federal funding cuts, Metro Health announced that free and low-cost vaccines soon will be a thing of the past at Metro Health.
Last year, the agency used a Federal Immunization Vaccines for Children Grant to assist 9,300 people and administer 22,400 vaccines. That comes to an end on July 1.
In Texas, parents can opt out of vaccinations for their children if they claim a conscientious exemption by submitting an affidavit form to the child’s school.
Data from the DSHS shows that the highest percentage rates of conscientious exemptions in Bexar County are mostly filed via private schools, which also have lower student enrollment compared to public school districts.
