Metro Health on Feb. 28 told the Community Health Committee it is investigating potential community exposures after a person who later tested positive for measles visited San Antonio Feb. 149 during the likely infectious period of Feb. 159 through Feb. 24.

Dr. Kurian, an epidemiology leader at Metro Health, said the person visited the UTSA campus (around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 15), several River Walk attractions including Ripleys, and dined at Mr. Crabby's Seafood in Live Oak from about 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Metro Health extended the exposure windows by two hours beyond the reported visit times because measles virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infectious person leaves.

"It's a highly infectious condition," Dr. Kurian told the committee. "Ninety percent of folks who are unvaccinated who come in contact with a confirmed case can get the disease." She reviewed typical symptoms, the incubation period (generally 7 to 14 days) and the public-health steps the department has taken, including contact investigations, notifications to the affected venues, alerts to UTSA and River Walk operators, and education for identified contacts.

Metro Health said it had identified roughly 20 close contacts from the known exposure locations; most of those contacts are vaccinated and are being monitored. The department also reported it receives 60 to 80 infectious-disease calls on a typical day, and call volume increases during outbreak response. The department has prepared guidance documents for childcare facilities, first responders and school nurses; it is scheduling town halls and a school-nurse briefing next week and has already offered to host pop-up vaccination events in neighborhoods with low vaccine-provider coverage.

On statewide and national context, Metro Health cited a larger West Texas outbreak being tracked by the Texas Department of State Health Services; as of the morning of the briefing the county-level situation was evolving and DSHS reported 146 cases associated with that outbreak. Dr. Kurian said measles cases nationwide rose in 2024 (285 cases across 33 jurisdictions for the year) and that 2025 had exceeded 100 cases by February in the U.S.

Local immunization coverage data: Metro Health said kindergarten MMR coverage in Bexar County is close to but slightly below the 95% target and that certain neighborhoods (notably parts of the South and West sides) have pockets of lower coverage; the department stressed targeted outreach in those areas. Dr. Kurian also reminded parents of vaccine scheduling: two doses of MMR in childhood (first at 12915 months, second at 496 years) provide the best protection.

Council members asked about pre-K for SA sites, school outreach and how the public will receive updates. Metro Health said staff had already sent guidance to childcare providers and pre-K partners, will coordinate with Region 20 and school districts, and will post regular updates and FAQs on its website. The department said it expects any cases tied to the Feb. 14915 exposure to appear by March 8, based on the incubation period, and asked anyone who is ill to stay home and be evaluated.

Metro Health recommended that people verify vaccination records and that community members and providers report any suspected measles immediately; the agency urged uninsured or underinsured residents to use VFC and adult safety-net clinics and said administrative fees are nominal and services are not denied for inability to pay. A free MMR pop-up event was scheduled at Cortez Library the weekend following the briefing; Metro Health said additional pop-ups would be posted on its website.

The briefing did not request any committee action; Metro Health said it would continue to provide updates as cases are confirmed and as the public-health investigation continues.

Sources: Metro Health briefing at the Feb. 28 Community Health Committee meeting; Metro Health slides and public comments from the meeting.