Four unvaccinated members of the same Montgomery County family have contracted measles, triggering a state health alert Wednesday, July 29, and giving Conroe ISD families roughly two weeks to verify their children's vaccination status before classes begin Aug. 12.
The cases are the county's first since 2019, according to the Montgomery County Hospital District. The Texas Department of State Health Services warned that because measles is highly contagious, additional cases could occur among unvaccinated residents.
The family was initially exposed by a confirmed measles case who traveled to Texas from another state, KPRC 2 reported.
Vaccination rates trail herd immunity threshold
Montgomery County's kindergarten MMR vaccination rate stood at 92.1% for the 2025-2026 school year, below the 93.3% state average and nearly three percentage points short of the 95% benchmark public health experts consider necessary for herd immunity, according to ABC13. Only 96 of Texas's 252 counties met that 95% threshold last school year, the Texas Tribune reported in early July.
The statewide kindergarten exemption rate for measles climbed to 4.45% in 2025-2026, double the pre-pandemic rate. Last year's West Texas measles outbreak resulted in 762 confirmed cases, 99 hospitalizations, and two child deaths before it was declared over in August 2025.
Hospital district coordinating with area schools
Meghna Joshi, epidemiology and preparedness manager for the Montgomery County Hospital District, said the district is working on meetings with area school districts to review vaccination rates and go over signs and symptoms ahead of the school year. Conroe ISD, which serves The Woodlands, Oak Ridge, and Conroe communities, is among the districts in the hospital district's service area.
Joshi said the goal is to bring school staff up to speed on the local situation so they can prepare for their students.
Conroe ISD teachers are expected to return Aug. 3, according to the Houston Chronicle. No statement from the district about the outbreak was publicly available as of Wednesday.
What families should know
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are more than 97% effective at preventing measles, according to DSHS. Early symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward. Infected people are contagious from about four days before the rash appears until four days after.
Health officials advise calling a provider before visiting a clinic if you suspect exposure, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to other patients.
Where to get vaccinated
The Montgomery County Public Health Clinic at 1300 South Loop 336 West in Conroe offers free or low-cost MMR vaccinations for eligible children through the Texas Vaccines for Children program and for uninsured adults through the Adult Safety Net program. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 936-523-5020 for an appointment.
Pharmacists can administer the MMR vaccine without a prescription to anyone 14 and older; children 13 and younger need a prescription.
Dr. Casey Patrick, medical director for the Montgomery County Hospital District, framed the decision plainly: "The choice to vaccinate is infinitely less risky than actually having measles."
