But neither Gov.
Greg Abbott nor lawmakers from the hardest hit areas have addressed the outbreak publicly in press conferences, social media posts or public calls for people to consider getting vaccinated. State and local authorities in West Texas have not yet enacted more significant measures that other places have adopted during outbreaks, like excluding unvaccinated students from school before they are exposed, or enforcing quarantine after exposure.
But to proactively exclude unvaccinated students before they are known to be exposed requires the Texas health commissioner to declare a public health emergency, which can be activated when there is a health threat that potentially poses a risk of death or severe illness or harm to the public. Anton said there are no plans to declare an emergency at this time, noting that more than 90% of Texans are vaccinated for measles.
[Meanwhile in bluer Austin]
Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Medical Director, emphasized the severity of the situation, noting the highly contagious nature of measles.
"It can cause very severe disease, particularly in unvaccinated people," Walkes said. "It can infect children particularly and cause them to be sick enough and require hospitalization, even be in ICU."
[So far no cases in Travis County]
