Measles Outbreak: Austin Health Officials Warn That Thousands May Have Been Exposed To Contagious Disease

Health officials in Austin, Texas, have warned local residents that thousands may have been exposed to measles.

The Austin Public Health Department noted that the person carrying measles in Travis County visited multiple locations between Dec. 14 and Dec. 17. The infected person reportedly visited multiple restaurants and stores in and around the city before leaving out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

“Out of an abundance of caution, Health Departments in Central Texas are informing people who were at various locations listed below during the specified time frames that they may have been exposed to an individual with measles,” Austin Public Health wrote in an official release.

The full outline of locations and dates are:

• Chipotle Mexican Grill, 6301 W. Parmer Lane – evening of Dec. 14
• HEB, 6001 W Parmer Lane – Dec. 14 to Dec. 16
• Saam Thai, 6301 W Parmer Lane – Dec. 15
• Mandola’s Italian, 4700 W Guadalupe Street – Dec. 15 to Dec. 16
• Target, 10107 Research Boulevard – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 16
• Marco’s Pizza, 11011 Research Boulevard – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 16
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, 3600 Presidential Boulevard; United Airlines gate – Noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 17

“Measles is an acute, highly contagious viral disease. A small number of cases are capable of quickly producing epidemics,” interim health authority and medical director for Austin Public Health Dr. Mark Escott said in the official release. “The best way to protect yourself and your family against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases is by immunization.”

Austin health officials have advised residents that if they develop any symptoms of measles, including fever or rash, before Jan. 1 to call their doctor. They have also advised anyone at the locations listed to review vaccination history for themselves and their family if they were present.

This is the first case of a person in Travis County to be diagnosed with measles since 1999. The county has a population of roughly 1.3 million.

There have been other potential measles cases in the U.S. this month. The Chicago Department of Public Health on Sunday said it is investigating a possible measles exposure. Health officials on Dec. 11 warned that airplane passengers who passed through Los Angeles International Airport and Denver International Airport may have been exposed to measles.