DALLAS, TX — Dallas County health officials are warning North Texans about possible measles exposure after a resident tested positive for the virus. Dallas County Health and Human Services said the person visited three locations in Allen, Fairview and Frisco while contagious on Aug. 14 and Aug. 15.
The county said measles can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Officials identified time windows of concern at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Chapel in Allen, Gloria’s Restaurant in Fairview, and The Revel Patio Grill in Frisco.
County Details Exposure Sites
The health department listed the Allen location as Turrentine Jackson Morrow Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, with a window of risk from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. It said the Fairview exposure window at Gloria’s Restaurant, 152 Fountain Circle, ran from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. that same day.
Officials also named The Revel Patio Grill, 9305 Preston Rd. in Frisco, as a possible exposure site from 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, through midnight. The county has not said anything publicly about the patient’s age, vaccination status or where the person may have contracted measles.
What Health Officials Said
Dr. Philip Huang, director of the Dallas County health department, said anyone who was at one of the listed places during the identified time periods should check vaccination records and watch for symptoms. He also said families should make sure they are current on the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
County officials said people with proof of vaccination, laboratory evidence of immunity or confirmation of a prior measles infection are considered protected. Those born before 1957 are generally presumed to have immunity as well. Unvaccinated people who were at the locations during the exposure windows should watch for symptoms for 21 days after exposure, the department said.
What Residents Should Watch
The department said symptoms can include high fever, cough, runny nose, a rash that starts on the face and spreads downward, and red, watery eyes. It added that infants, pregnant people without evidence of immunity, and people with severely weakened immune systems face a higher risk of serious complications.
Anyone in those higher-risk groups who may have been exposed should contact a healthcare provider for guidance, county officials said. People who develop symptoms should stay home, avoid contact with others, and call a healthcare provider or emergency department before arriving so staff can prepare for a possible measles case.
The county also said symptomatic people should avoid public transportation, taxis and ride-share services when traveling to care. Officials pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says the U.S. is seeing its highest number of measles cases in 35 years, and urged residents to keep following Dallas County Health and Human Services updates.
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