Your city’s early warning system just did its job. Austin Public Health found measles virus in our local wastewater during the first week of July, and they’re telling everyone about it now so you can protect your family before this becomes a bigger problem.
What’s Actually Happening
Two Travis County residents have already tested positive for measles this year—both got it while traveling. Now the wastewater detection means the virus is circulating in our community, even if people don’t know they have it yet.
“This is just another important reminder on why we all need to get vaccinated against measles,” said Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes. “While we haven’t experienced an outbreak here in our community, it can only be a matter of time if we leave ourselves unprotected.”
Why You Should Care Right Now
Measles isn’t just a childhood rash. This virus is incredibly contagious—if one person has it, 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people around them will catch it. And here’s the scary part: the virus hangs around in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes.
You could walk into a room where someone with measles was two hours ago and still get infected just by breathing.
What You Need to Do This Week
Check your vaccination status. You need two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine for full protection. Can’t remember if you got both shots? Your doctor can run a quick blood test to check your immunity.
Get your kids vaccinated. If your children are behind on their MMR shots, don’t wait. Call your pediatrician or pharmacy today.
No insurance? No problem. Austin Public Health offers MMR vaccines at their Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics for uninsured and underinsured families.
Planning to travel? Measles outbreaks are happening in counties across Texas right now. Talk to your healthcare provider about vaccination before you go anywhere.
Who Needs to Worry Most
Young children under 5, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems face the most serious complications. But here’s the thing—getting yourself vaccinated protects them too. When more people in the community are immune, it creates a protective bubble around those who can’t defend themselves.
Common complications include ear infections and diarrhea, but measles can also cause pneumonia and brain inflammation. Some people die from it, even in 2025.
Final Thought
Austin eliminated measles locally, just like the rest of the United States did in 2000. But travelers keep bringing it back from other countries where it’s still common. That’s exactly what happened with our two cases this year.
The wastewater detection is your heads-up. It’s your chance to get protected before this turns into an outbreak that affects schools, workplaces, and family gatherings.
Take action today: Call your doctor or pharmacy to schedule your MMR vaccine. If you have kids under 14, they’ll need a prescription to get vaccinated at a pharmacy, so start with your pediatrician.
You’ve got the information and the tools to protect your family. The question is whether you’ll use them before measles starts spreading person to person in our community.
For the latest updates on measles in Austin-Travis County, visit austintexas.gov/measles
