City of Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: APH Media

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Public Health (APH) is actively investigating a second reported case of measles in Travis County in 2025. The case involves a vaccinated adult who may have been exposed to the virus while traveling domestically within the United States. The Travis County resident is currently isolating with mild symptoms.

“Two doses of the vaccine will be 97 percent effective in developing immunity to the virus. While a vaccinated person can still get measles, they are more likely to experience mild symptoms and are less likely to spread it,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “We consider measles to be one of the most contagious viruses we know and getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself. For those who are vaccinated, check with your doctor to see if you may need a booster.”

Exposure Locations*:

*Note: The above exposure list is based on an initial case investigation. More locations may be added. Please check austintexas.gov/measles for the latest information.

1. If you were at one of the venues on the dates and times listed above and are:

Contact your healthcare provider immediately to discuss the possible exposure. If you don’t have a provider, call 512-972-5555 and APH can help connect you to care.

2. Anyone who was at the locations on the dates listed above should monitor themselves for measles symptoms through MAY 11, 2025. Those symptoms include:

3. If you develop symptoms of measles:

"Beating measles takes all of us buying into vaccinations and getting protected against this vaccine-preventable disease," said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. "Vaccination helps individuals avoid measles and higher vaccination rates lower our chances of a local outbreak, protecting children who aren't yet old enough for the vaccine and those individuals who are immunocompromised. Let's stay healthier together."

“The steps are simple: Get vaccinated if you haven’t already, stay informed, and look out for one another,” said Travis County Judge Andy Brown. “Data from the CDC highlights just how important high vaccination rates are. When a school’s vaccination rate drops to 90%, the chance of a measles outbreak rises to 51%. A vaccine is our first line of defense and it's up to all of us to keep our community safe against this highly contagious and preventable disease.”

Prevention

The best way to protect yourself from measles is to receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are required to receive full protection.

The MMR vaccine is offered at doctors’ offices and pharmacies. Children under the age of 14 will require a prescription from a doctor to receive the vaccine at a pharmacy. APH offers the MMR vaccine for uninsured and underinsured Austinites at its Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics.

Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease can actively linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. If someone breathes contaminated air or touches infected surfaces and then their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can become infected.

If one person has measles, 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people nearby will become infected if they are not protected.

Complications

Measles can cause serious health complications and death for all age groups, especially in children younger than 5 years of age and individuals who are not vaccinated. Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.

Who is at risk

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk. Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. However, measles is still common in many parts of the world. Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers who get measles while they are in other countries. These travelers are mostly Americans and sometimes international visitors. An outbreak of measles has been reported in the following Texas counties: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Gara, Lamar, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum. Individuals planning to travel to any of these areas are advised to consult their healthcare provider for vaccination guidance before traveling.

Young children, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised are more likely to experience complications. Immunizing individuals who live with those at higher risk plays a vital role in protecting vulnerable populations from severe illness or death. Find the latest information on measles in Austin-Travis County at austintexas.gov/measles.

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An Austin-area tech company with a global footprint has begun making major investments in South Texas, including the purchase of a 1,000-acre tract of land, as well as a historic hotel in Edinburg.

Zoho Corporation — which in 2019 moved its corporate headquarters from Silicon Valley to the Del Valle area of Austin — is continuing to expand its footprint in Texas.

On Friday, April 11, the company finalized the purchase of Edinburg’s historic Echo Hotel, according to property deed records from Hidalgo County.

Founded in Chennai, India, in 1996, the company now has locations in 20 countries, including three in Texas.

Edinburg's Echo Hotel

The Echo Hotel was built in 1959 along the town’s main drag, U.S. Business Highway 281, also known as Closner Boulevard.

Famous for its enormous mid-century-style sign that glows nearly fluorescent green at night, the Echo sits on 15 acres of land, with the hotel occupying some 321,000 square feet of that space, county property records show.

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Zoho’s purchase of the Echo comes about six months after another large-scale land investment in the region.

On Sept. 23, 2024, Zoho finalized the purchase of a 1,050-acre tract of land about 15 miles north of the city of Edinburg near the famed Red Gate Ranch.

The expansive rural tract stretches from the northbound Interstate-69C frontage road directly eastward in a narrow ribbon that looks like two misshapen rectangles laid end-to-end.

However, it remains unclear how much Zoho paid for either property. The company declined to comment beyond saying, "As we've always shared, we are committed to the Rio Grande Valley."

But Hidalgo County appraisal records put the taxable value of the Echo at just under $1.85 million — a more than $1.1 million decrease from the $3 million valuation it received in 2022.

Meanwhile, the 1,050-acre tract of land was valued at just over $89,000 for the 2024 tax year — a plum valuation that came as a result of the property’s designation as agricultural land.

County appraisers estimated the rural land to be worth more than $2.9 million at market rate.

Zoho's plans for Rio Grande Valley tech campus meets backlash

Zoho’s purchase of the two properties is not its first foray into establishing a location in the Rio Grande Valley.

Since 2022, the company has operated an office in the city of McAllen.

At the time, McAllen city leaders celebrated Zoho’s opening — located in a “creative incubator” facility operated by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce — as a coup signaling the beginning of a tech revolution in the Valley.

The company had a bold plan to build what it called a “tech campus” that would fuse an “ecological paradise” with modern-day “advanced technologies” such as robotics engineering.

But the company needed somewhere to build the campus.

Enter the city of McAllen, which owns a 90-acre undeveloped plot of land that sits in the middle of a FEMA flood plain on the south side of town.

Undeveloped, but not unused.

The land, which locals have for years called Green Jay Park, is home to scores of native plants and animals that draw visits from birdwatchers near and far.

It’s also home to one of the few 18-hole disc golf courses in South Texas and is a favorite among the disc golf community.

McAllen city leaders offered Zoho the Green Jay Park property, even going as far as rezoning the park from open space to light industrial.

That drew the ire of hundreds of residents, who showed up en masse at McAllen public meetings to voice their dissent and to call on city leaders to save the park.

Ultimately, in July 2023, the city rezoned the property. But afterward, there was nothing but silence — until Zoho quietly bought the acreage north of Edinburg last year.

Zoho purchases solidify South Texas commitment

Edinburg leaders were mum on the details of the company’s decision to buy two properties, but they did express excitement at Zoho’s decision.

“I think that Zoho opening up a facility in Edinburg brings a lot of job opportunities for the region, as they have done in other parts of their operations,” Raudel Garza, director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, told MySA on Wednesday, April 23.

“They’re gonna do big things here,” he added.

The EDC director declined to go into detail over how much money Zoho paid for the two properties, but he did say that the EDC didn’t do anything to sweeten the deal.

“I can tell you that this was a straight up real estate deal. There have been no economic incentive agreements whatsoever,” Raudel Garza said.

Over the last three years, Edinburg has seen a billion dollars in new investments, Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. said.

And Zoho’s decision to build in the city is just another sign that “business attracts business,” Ramiro Garza said.

“We're just excited that we now are also getting a good amount of traction on some of the larger employers that are looking at the South Texas region,” Raudel Garza said.

The city of McAllen is excited, too — even though Zoho didn’t choose its Green Jay Park location.

For McAllen City Manager Isaac “Ike” Tawil, Zoho’s presence anywhere in the Valley is a boon for the entire region.

“The fact that they’re in the Valley is a good thing, and the fact that McAllen brought them to the Valley is a great thing,” Tawil said, adding companies like Zoho bring high-paying jobs with them.

Indeed, during its deliberations over locating in McAllen, company officials touted the inroads they’d already begun making with local colleges.

“Let’s continue to celebrate those kinds of victories. Let’s continue to elevate this part of the country,” Tawil said.

Austin, TX (April 23, 2025) – A collision involving injuries was reported early Tuesday afternoon on S US 183 Hwy near Planeview Dr in Austin. The incident, which occurred just after 12:30 p.m., drew a response from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency medical teams.

Medics and fire crews worked to assist those suffering from injuries after the collision. The crash occurred in the southbound lanes of S US 183 Hwy, one of the city’s major traffic corridors, which led to partial lane closures as emergency services operated at the scene.

Although officials have not released details on how many individuals were injured or how many vehicles were involved, responders remained at the scene to ensure the safety of all parties and to begin the initial investigation into the cause of the crash. Traffic delays were noted in the area as law enforcement coordinated the safe movement of vehicles around the accident site.

The cause of the collision is currently under investigation by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. Our thoughts are with those impacted as they recover from the events of the day.

Highway Safety Challenges on US 183 in Austin

US 183 is a vital north-south route through Austin, heavily used by commuters and freight transport. The area around Planeview Dr in southeast Austin often experiences steady midday traffic, making any disruption here particularly impactful for drivers.

Highway crashes like this one typically involve vehicles traveling at higher speeds, which increases the likelihood of injury when collisions occur. Factors such as merging traffic, aggressive lane changes, or even distracted driving can quickly escalate into serious incidents—especially in areas where highway conditions shift from urban to semi-rural, as they do along this stretch of S US 183 Hwy.

Austin traffic data has shown a growing number of injury accidents on major corridors, especially during peak hours or transitional zones between interchanges. As growth continues in Travis County, infrastructure improvements are being discussed, but driver behavior remains one of the most influential factors in accident prevention.

To reduce the risk of injury in highway environments, drivers are urged to maintain safe following distances, obey posted speed limits, and stay focused on the road. Even a moment of inattention can lead to major consequences on roadways like US 183.

For more information or to receive help after an accident, contact Local Accident Reports.

Austin, TX (April 25, 2025) – A collision resulting in injuries was reported early Friday morning in Travis County, along the 14300 block of Wells Port Dr.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m., drawing a response from deputies with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency medical teams. First responders, including paramedics, assessed and treated individuals hurt in the crash. The incident caused temporary disruption along Wells Port Dr as authorities worked to secure the area and assist the injured.

Wells Port Dr is situated in a residential area of North Austin that connects several neighborhoods, and is typically quiet during the early morning hours. Details surrounding the cause of the crash and the number of individuals involved have not been released. Officials are continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision.

No additional updates have been provided regarding the extent of the injuries. The roadway was reopened shortly after emergency crews cleared the scene.

Our thoughts are with those impacted as they recover from this incident.

Residential Roadway Risks and Overnight Collisions in Travis County

While high-speed highways often draw the most attention for crash risk, residential roads like Wells Port Dr in Travis County also carry significant danger—especially during overnight hours. The early morning time frame, when driver alertness is often diminished, contributes to a rise in serious collisions across Texas neighborhoods.

Fatigue, poor lighting, and a false sense of security on low-traffic roads can all play a role in these types of incidents. In neighborhoods where drivers assume conditions are predictable, even a minor mistake can lead to an injury-causing crash.

Local agencies continue to implement traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps and improved signage, to reduce the likelihood of collisions in residential zones. However, safety still relies heavily on individual responsibility—slowing down, staying alert, and minimizing distractions while driving.

Accidents like this one in North Austin can have lasting consequences for those injured, including physical recovery, emotional distress, and financial burdens related to treatment or lost work time. For many, navigating post-crash procedures can feel overwhelming.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a residential-area crash, Local Accident Reports can connect you with resources and guidance to support your recovery. Reach out today to learn more about your options.

A Travis County adult is isolating after testing positive for measles, Austin Public Health officials announced Friday. It is the second confirmed local case of the virus this year.

APH representatives said the sick individual may have been exposed to the virus while traveling in the United States.

"The patient visited a state outside of Texas that is experiencing a rise in measles cases," APH spokesperson William Malm said.

The individual was reportedly vaccinated against measles, a highly contagious disease that can have severe complications. Typically, two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine offers 97% protection against the measles virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“While a vaccinated person can still get measles, they are more likely to experience mild symptoms and are less likely to spread it,” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, said in a statement. “We consider measles to be one of the most contagious viruses we know and getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself.”

Walkes said people who are vaccinated should check with their doctors to see if they should get a booster dose.

APH shared locations where the sick person may have exposed others. Those include:

APH said more locations could be added to the list as contact tracing continues.

People who were at the listed locations during the timeframe identified should monitor for symptoms including rash, cough and fever, through May 11, APH said. Those who are pregnant and unvaccinated, or generally immunocompromised, and visited those locations during those times should contact their doctors now.

In late February, APH announced a measles case in an unvaccinated infant, who contracted the virus while traveling internationally with family. No additional exposures were announced following that case.

Meanwhile, a measles outbreak is ongoing in West Texas, where more than 600 people have tested positive this year. Sixty-four of those individuals have been hospitalized. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the vast majority of those cases involve people who were not vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.