Austin Public Health officials announced the presence of measles traces detected in Travis County’s wastewater, with the discovery made during surveillance in early July. The findings were communicated to health authorities on July 18, prompting discussions about the potential implications for public health in the area.
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory illness, spreads through aerosolized droplets that can remain in the atmosphere for up to two hours after an infected individual coughs or sneezes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a 90% infection rate among unvaccinated individuals who come into contact with someone with the virus.
The significance of finding traces of measles in wastewater has raised questions about its implications for the community. Heather Cooks-Sinclair, an epidemiologist with Austin Public Health, stated that while it confirms the virus’s presence, it does not indicate the scale of infection in the population. Cooks-Sinclair noted, ‘It could be as little as someone coming in visiting that may have had measles.’
Local health care provider reports play a more critical role in gauging measles prevalence in the community compared to wastewater testing. Fortunately, there have not been any new confirmed measles cases in recent weeks, though the detection still heightens awareness among local doctors.
Cooks-Sinclair pointed out the importance of being vigilant about symptoms consistent with measles, especially now that health officials are aware of its presence in wastewater. “If somebody came in that had symptoms that could be consistent with measles but could be consistent with another illness, they may not think, ‘I need to put that as part of my [diagnoses],’ but if I say we’ve seen measles in our wastewater, it alerts them at a higher level that they should be suspicious of that,” she explained.
Despite the current absence of an outbreak, Austin Public Health Authority Desmar Walkes cautioned that the community remains vulnerable. ‘While we haven’t experienced an outbreak here in our community, it can only be a matter of time if we leave ourselves unprotected,’ Walkes stated.
In 2023, Travis County has reported two confirmed cases of measles — one involving an unvaccinated infant in February and the other a vaccinated adult in late April, both cases linked to travel outside the region. Additionally, Williamson and Hays counties have also recorded measles cases this year.
Cooks-Sinclair highlighted a worrying trend in vaccination rates, attributing the decline to hesitancy since the COVID pandemic. ‘Our numbers of people being fully vaccinated are dropping, and they have been dropping since COVID,’ she remarked, underscoring concerns about diminishing herd immunity.
Individuals born between 1963-1967, referred to as late-Boomers or early Gen X-ers, are advised to get a booster shot, as the vaccine administered during that period was less effective than the current version. For those who have received two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine post-1967, Cooks-Sinclair confirmed they should generally be protected as the vaccine is 97% effective in preventing severe measles disease.
People uncertain about their vaccination status can consult their previous pediatricians or schools for vaccination records. KUT has previously offered tips for those unsure about their immunization status.
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