For YOUR Health Central Texas! Measles spreading in Texas! Alerts in Central Texas!

Staying up-to-date

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By Heather Rivera

For YOUR Health! Stay up-to-date on vaccines and more!

APH Emergency Preparedness!
Prepare / Respond / Recover

UPDATE:

MEASLES continues to spread in TEXAS!!
Texas Health and Human Services measles update

CDC has Epi-Aid / disease detectives are on the ground helping with the measles outbreak with 159 and counting cases. 3/4/25

Measles not expected to be a problem during SXSW (3/4/25)

CVS locations in Texas will have measles vaccinations (MMR). (3/3/25)

First death in TX Measles Outbreak has been confirmed at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock. (2/26/25) West Texas update 3/4/25

-There is confirmation of exposure in Hays Country / Central Texas. There is a timeline of where the person who traveled from West Texas to San Marcos, San Antonio and New Braunsfels / Central Texas areas was in relation to the spread here (2/25/25)

Things to know:
Austin Public Health austintexas.gov/measles

-Measles is highly contagious, mild for some and serious for others! It can cause serious health issues, which include blindness and brain damage. It can be deadly too. Measles presents with a fever and characteristic rash. It can survive in the air for up to 2 hours.

-An infected person can spread the disease up to four days before a measles rash appears and up to four days after the rash appears. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses or mouths, they can become infected.
* Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed
1 in 5 people who get measles are hospitalized
* 1 out of 1,000 people with measles develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain)
*1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles die

-The Measles vaccine given between 1963 -1969 was not as effective. Talk to your doctor about getting a booster if you were vaccinated during this time.

-Aren't sure you have had a Measles vaccine, consult your doctor to get a blood test to check and / or the booster/ vaccination.

-Unvaccinated, it's strongly suggested to get a Measles vaccination!

Austin Public Health Urges Residents to Get Vaccinated Following Confirmed Measles Cases in Texas. https://bit.ly/42oTN7L Before international travel get vaccinated.

February: Heart Health Awareness! Don't ignore the different signs in women and men when it come to a heart attack.

FLU cases are HIGH / ATX - the season runs through MAY. It's never to late to get a FLU shot. FLU trends and more

Bird Flu:
Dead wild bird tested positive for Bird Flu in Hays County 2/21/25
CDC: Outdoor cats on U.S. dairy farms have been infected with (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus; infection has not been reported in indoor cats. 2/20/25
2nd type of Bird Fle detected in diary cows 2/6/25
Bird Flu detected in all 50 states. Animal waste water is being tested. 2/4/25
H5N9, highly pathogenic type of 'bird flu' has been detected in poutry at a California farm. Not the same strain of virus, H5N1 that has been spreading on dairy cow and poultry famrs and causing several dozen infections in humans. 2/4/25
H5N1 bird flu — have been found along the shores of Lake Michigan in the Chicago area 2/4/25
Bird Flu causing the price of eggs to soar / surcharges too 2/4/25
Bird Flu / airborne being studied 2/4/25
Moderna gets $590Million Grant from HHS 1/21/25
Bird Flu sicked or killed more than a dozen cat who ate raw cat food 1/21/25
Bird Flu detected in ATX 1/8/24

Do the basics to help stop the spread of respiratory viruses
- Stay home and away from others if you have respiratory virus symptoms!
- When coughing and sneezing cover your mouth.
- Wash hands often.
- Keep your hands away from your face.
- Wearing a mask can help reduce the spread of germs.

Norovirus learn more about it and how to prevent it.

FDA approved COVID-19 vaccines available:
2024–2025 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine: Everyone 6 months and older
2024- 2025 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: Everyone 6 months and older 2024-2025 Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine: Everyone ages 12 and older
CDC recommends a second dose for those 65 & up
Helpful vaccine information

FREE COVID-19 tests are available to order NOW with the rise in COVID-19 cases! Each household can order 4! Click here!

CDC COVID Data Tracker / CDC updated Respiratory Virus Guidance

Mpox / Monkeypox
APH MPox Vaccine Info MPox Providers current situation
CDC Mpox Vaccination Basics CDC Mpox vaccine locator
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