Comal County’s Public Health Department today notified residents that a person with a confirmed case of measles visited Buc-ee’s convenience store off I-35 in the Creekside shopping area in New Braunfels between 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday, Feb. 16.
An individual from Gaines County, the site of a recent, unprecedented measles outbreak, also visited two colleges over the course of three days beginning Feb. 14.
The infected person visited the University of Texas at San Antonio between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, and Texas State University in San Marcos between 3-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14.
“Anyone who visited the following locations during the specified time frames should monitor for symptoms and check their vaccination status,” said Comal County Public Health Director Cheryl Fraser.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through coughing, sneezing, and direct contact. Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure and include:
- High fever
- Cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes
- A rash that usually starts at the hairline and spreads downward
Residents are urged to check their vaccination status. Public Health said in a statement that a complete MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection.
Pregnant women, parents or guardians of infants, or those with weakened immune systems are advised to contact health care providers regardless of their immunization histories.
Individuals exposed to measles are asked to monitor symptoms for up to 21 days after potential exposure and to call ahead before visiting a doctor. They should self-isolate if symptoms arise.
“We encourage all residents to stay informed and take preventive measures to protect themselves and their communities,” Public Information Officer Cary Zayas said.
On Friday, Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) issued this update: “The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains region of Texas. At this time, 90 cases have been identified since late January. Sixteen of the patients have been hospitalized. Five of the cases are vaccinated. The rest are unvaccinated, or their vaccination status is unknown. Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.”
For more information, contact Comal County Public Health at 830-221-1150.
