Measles cases have surged in San Antonio, with 90 confirmed cases across seven counties since late January. Health experts warn that hundreds of thousands of people may have been exposed to the virus during Valentine’s Day weekend.
A person visiting from Gaines County in West Texas tested positive for measles after a visit to the University of Texas at San Antonio’s main campus and several downtown tourist attractions on February 15. The infected individual is believed to have visited Buc-ee’s in New Braunfels on February 16, potentially exposing more people.
San Antonio has seen no local cases so far, but health officials are concerned due to the ongoing presence of measles in other communities. The city has a high vaccination rate for measles, with around 94% coverage.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, watery eyes, and a telltale red rash, which can appear after 3-5 days of initial symptoms. Pregnant women, babies, young children, and people with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to severe consequences.
The best defense against measles is getting vaccinated or ensuring immunity through previous vaccination. Once vaccinated, the individual receives lifetime protection against measles.
With the outbreak growing in the area, health experts urge residents to take precautions, get vaccinated if needed, and monitor their health closely.
Source: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/02/24/tourist-may-have-exposed-hundreds-of-thousands-of-people-in-san-antonio-to-measles-health-experts-say