Bexar County Reports First Measles Case of 2025

BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed the first measles case of 2025 in Bexar County.

The announcement was made in the agency’s weekly update on Tuesday.

Dr. Claude A. Jacob, the Director of the Metro Health Department, informed KSAT that the case in Bexar County was identified on June 15.

Following an investigation, Dr. Jacob stated that Metro Health’s epidemiology team determined there was no known public exposure or any immediate risk to the community.

This measles case has been linked to an outbreak in West Texas that started in January, according to DSHS.

“Metro Health advises everyone to stay up to date with vaccinations, be vigilant about potential exposure, and take preventive measures to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases,” Jacob added in his message to KSAT.

Overall, DSHS reported that there have been 753 measles cases across the state since late January, with more than 400 of those confirmed in Gaines County.

This year, 99 individuals have been hospitalized due to the virus. Tragically, two unvaccinated school-aged children from the West Texas outbreak area have died from measles, as reported by DSHS.

Earlier in April, the state confirmed the first measles case in the San Antonio vicinity. It was reported that an unvaccinated person attended an event at Shearit Yisrael Qahal Yehoshua while in their infectious period on April 13.

A separate measles case, not related to the outbreak, was reported in Hays County in May.

Guidance on Exposure and Symptom Monitoring

Measles is an airborne illness, and anyone can be susceptible to it. Atascosa County officials highlighted the gravity of the situation when they confirmed the April case. Complications from measles can be severe, including ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and rare cases of brain inflammation.

Infants, children under five, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk, as noted in their release.

Common symptoms of measles include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red and watery eyes
• A rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward, appearing two to five days after the first symptoms

Vaccinating with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is deemed the most effective way to prevent measles, according to the release.

Atascosa County officials shared the following guidance for individuals who may have been exposed or are showing symptoms:

• Monitor for symptoms, which generally appear seven to 21 days after exposure.
• Isolate immediately to avoid spreading the virus to others.
• Contact a healthcare provider prior to visiting to arrange testing.
• Getting a measles vaccine within three days or immunoglobulin (IG) within six days of exposure can prevent illness; consult with a healthcare provider for further details.

For additional information on measles, residents in San Antonio can call 311.