HOUSTON — The Houston Health Department on Sunday confirmed that an infant in the city has been diagnosed with the measles.
HHD said the unvaccinated child was exposed to the virus during international travel. The child was hospitalized, but has since been discharged and is recovering at home.
Editor’s note: Video above is from a KHOU 11 question and answer special on measles posted earlier this month
Officials emphasized that this case is not related to the outbreak in West Texas, in which there are hundreds of reported cases.
According to HHD, this is the city’s third case of measles in the city in 2025. In January, two other unrelated cases were reported in Houston.
To prevent the measles from spreading, Houston health officials encourage vaccination.
“The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the measles is through vaccination,” said Houston Chief Medical Officer David Persse. “The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is safe, highly effective, and remains the best defense against this potentially severe disease.”
Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to nine out of 10 people who are unvaccinated will get the virus if exposed, according to the CDC.
There has been one measles-related death reported in Texas. The patient was a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area in the South Plains. The child was not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.