Houston health officials are investigating two potential measles cases as the city prepares for the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
The organizers of the event have emphasized caution, particularly for unvaccinated and immunocompromised individuals.
The origin of the measles cases in Houston is unclear, and authorities have not disclosed whether the individuals are adults or children.
No connection has been confirmed between these cases and the ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas, which has resulted in 146 confirmed cases across nine counties.
The outbreak primarily affects unvaccinated individuals, and one unvaccinated school-aged child has died, while 18 others have been hospitalized.
According to the CDC, two doses of the measles vaccine provide 97% effectiveness.
Despite this, an increasing number of individuals in Texas and across the country remain unvaccinated, contributing to sporadic outbreaks, often linked to international travel.
The West Texas outbreak, which began in late January in Gaines County, remains the epicenter, with 98 of the 146 confirmed cases.
Health officials expect additional cases to emerge in the area due to the contagious nature of measles.
In addition to the West Texas cases, health officials in Austin confirmed a measles case in an infant exposed during a family vacation abroad.
The infant, who was under one year old, had not yet received the measles vaccine.
This is Austin’s first measles case since 2019. Rockwall County also reported a measles case in an adult, which is unrelated to the West Texas outbreak.
Houston had two additional measles cases in January involving unvaccinated adults who had traveled internationally.
