Hays County remains unscathed during national measles outbreak

While the country experiences its largest outbreak of measles since the disease was eradicated in the United States, Hays County has so far remained unaffected.

The Associated Press reported that more than 700 cases of the contagious disease have been reported this year in 22 states. Three quarters of those who caught measles are children or teenagers; no deaths have been reported, but 66 patients have been hospitalized.

“Yes, we are having the biggest outbreak of measles in the U.S. since it was eradicated from our shores in 2000,” Hays County Epidemiologist Eric Schneider said. “We have had 15 positive cases in Texas so far this year, but none of them have been a Hays County resident.”