Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Houston, Harris County urge MMR vaccinations as West Texas measles outbreak grows
Summary
City and county officials and health partners called for vaccinations, targeted outreach and wastewater monitoring after a West Texas measles outbreak expanded to more than 160 cases; officials said there are no active cases in Houston and announced free clinics and mobile vaccine sites.
Harris County Judge and the mayor of Houston on a joint press briefing urged residents to get MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccinations and to check vaccination status after a West Texas measles outbreak expanded rapidly in late January and February. Officials said Houston and Harris County have detected no active cases so far and described targeted steps — including wastewater surveillance, mobile clinics and school-focused outreach — to prevent local spread.
Why it matters: Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness. Health officials told reporters the recent outbreak in West Texas grew from two travel-related cases to about 168 cases across nine Texas counties and one county in New Mexico within a month, and they warned that pockets of low vaccination coverage can allow the virus to spread.
“We have no active cases right now,” the Harris County Judge said, urging vaccination and vigilance. The mayor of Houston added: “The remedy is being vaccinated.”
Steve Williams, director of the Houston Health Department, described the city’s surveillance and prevention work. “We…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
