Metro Health emphasized that the most effective way to prevent both measles and rubella is the MMR vaccine which has a 97% of effectiveness.
SAN ANTONIO — The number of measles cases in Texas has grown to 146. With one exposure in San Antonio, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District believes it could’ve impacted thousands.
Metro Health has been concentrating on education and prevention which includes the one exposure.
According to officials, the infected person visited the University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., a wax museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attractions at Alamo Plaza between 2:30-5:30 p.m., and Mr. Crabby’s Seafood and Bar in Live Oak between 6-8 p.m. Because measles can last in the air for up to two hours, Metro Health believes those in the vicinity two hours past the individual left the locations could still be at risk.
“Since UTSA was a pretty big exposure and UTSA have, taken care of their exposure by blast notification to all students, staff at faculty, of the staff,” said Dr. Anita Kurian, deputy director of Metro Health. “Now at the other sites, the River Walk and the Mr. Crabby’s, to date it’s just over 20 folks.”
Those 20 individuals that have been identified as being in close contact have yet to show symptoms, and Metro Health says the majority are vaccinated. But Dr. Kurian explains that doesn’t mean they’re out of the woods yet.
“The symptom appearance can happen anywhere from 7 to 14 days to up to 21 days,” she said. “So folks might be incubating during that period. And if somebody were to come down with the disease, the latest date that they can come down, is March 8th.”
In 2000, measles was considered “eliminated” in the United States, meaning there was no case or ongoing transmission for a continuous 12-month period. Historically Bexar County has only had four measles cases. The most recent was in 2019.
“Among our kindergartners, we have a vaccination coverage for measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at 94 percent,” Dr. Kurian stated. “It’s just under 95%.”
That statistic only includes kindergarteners in public schools. Those under 5 years old, women who are pregnant and those with underlying health conditions are considered to be most at-risk. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.
“First one is symptom monitoring, and then if you come down with symptoms, please stay home,” Dr. Kurian advised. “Please do not show up at health facilities or doctor’s offices unannounced. Call them ahead of time so they can make arrangements for you to be evaluated safely without putting the medical staff and other patients at this facility at risk for exposure.”
Metro Health emphasized that the most effective way to prevent both measles and rubella is the MMR vaccine which has a 97% of effectiveness.
“We actually highly recommend that if you have, known exposure or exposure that get vaccinated, if you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure because you can then prevent from coming down with the disease,” Dr. Kurian said.
There is a difference between measles and German measles, also known as rubella.
“The difference is the symptoms are pretty mild compared to measles, and the contagiousness is is pretty much much lower than people,” Dr. Kurian said.
By state law, anyone who diagnoses measles is required to report it. Dr. Kurian explains Metro Health is keeping a close watch on the west side and the south side.
“We are intensifying that effort specifically to those locations where we know that provider coverage is less to provide that service to the much needed community, which is the uninsured and under insured experience,” she said.
Measles can be contagious four days before symptoms appear, and four days after. At this time Metro Health is not recommending masks unless you have been identified as close contact and/or you are showing symptoms.
Metro Health is having pop-up vaccine clinics where individuals can receive the MMR vaccine.
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