Austin, TX
2 confirmed cases of measles reported in Texas
Measles in Texas
The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the first cases of measles in the state since 2023.
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the first cases of measles in the state since 2023. Health officials say those two reported cases are in Houston.
There have not been any confirmed cases in Central Texas, but Austin Public Health is asking residents to be proactive.
What is measles?
The backstory:
Measles is a highly contagious and, in some cases, deadly disease. Symptoms develop 7–14 days after infection, according to health officials.
“You could experience a very high fever, cough or runny nose, things like that, watery red eyes. A few days later, you’ll start to get a rash, and so that rash will start to look like white spots on the inside of your cheeks and then a rash that usually starts on your face and spreads down your body,” says Chief State Epidemiologist Varun Shetty.
Chief state epidemiologist Varun Shetty says measles is an airborne disease.
“Measles spreads through coughs and sneezes. It can stay in a room for up to two hours. Someone could get measles just simply by being in the room where someone who is sick had it. If you are not protected with the vaccine,” says Shetty.
Why you should care:
This month, the Houston Health Department identified two cases of measles associated with international travel.
Health officials said to prevent the spread of the disease, getting vaccinated is recommended.
“Typically, the vaccine that you receive from your doctor is called the MMR vaccine. It stands for measles, mumps, and rubella. It’s a two-dose vaccine. Two doses of this vaccine are highly effective at protecting against measles. In fact, it prevents 97% of cases of measles,” says Shetty.
Shetty says if you are not vaccinated, and you are exposed to the disease, take the proper precautions to protect yourself and the public.
“The most important thing is to isolate yourself, stay away from other people so you can reduce the risk of spreading it to others. Then we would recommend you to call your doctor on the phone ahead of time and let them know that you’re concerned about that so that you can arrange a safe way to get evaluated and get tested and then follow those doctor’s instructions,” says Shetty.
Health officials say those most at risk are pregnant women, children and those with weak immune systems.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Tan Radford
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
-
Culture5 minutes agoPoetry Challenge: Memorize “The More Loving One” by W.H. Auden
-
Lifestyle11 minutes agoPhotos: How overfishing in Southeast Asia is an ecological and human crisis
-
Technology23 minutes agoBlue Origin successfully reused its New Glenn rocket
-
World29 minutes agoDistress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors
-
Politics35 minutes agoTrump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins
-
Health41 minutes agoExperts reveal why ‘nonnamaxxing’ trend may improve mental, physical health
-
Sports47 minutes ago‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42
-
Technology53 minutes agoiPhone and Samsung flashlight tricks you should know