More measles cases are being reported in Texas with the latest being a child in Bell County.
There are now three in the Houston area, one in Galveston County and one in Montgomery County. Austin Travis County Health Authority Doctor Phil Huang says so far none have been reported in the Austin area. “The local concern is we have pockets of populations where the people are not getting immunized. Immunization is the best protection we have for measles.” He goes on to say, “There was a recent study that identified Austin as one of the top 14 communities in the country having groups not getting immunized.”
Dr. Huang says it’s been a while since measles were last seen in this area. “We have not had any cases in Austin, Travis County or South Central Texas, and we haven’t had any cases for at least ten years.”
Doctor Huang says measles pathogens can stay in the air for two hours after an infected person has left the room. He says immunization is the best prevention.
BTW: Dr. Haung says he’s leaving his post Friday for a similar job at the Dallas County health service.
