Editor's note: This story was updated after Austin Public Health informed KUT there wasn't a measles case at the school.
A reported case of measles at a Pflugerville elementary school was a false alarm, a representative for Austin Public Health said Friday.
"We've confirmed that there was no measles case," William Malm, a spokesperson for the local public health agency, said.
Parents of students at Windermere Elementary School had received a letter from the school’s health office Thursday informing them that a student had measles.
“A Windermere Elementary student has been diagnosed with measles, as confirmed by their physician," Tamra Spence, chief communications officer for PfISD, said in a statement to KUT Thursday. "Due to the contagious nature of this rare virus, we are notifying all families on the campus and submitting the information to Austin Public Health."
Pflugerville ISD sent another letter to Windermere families Friday, updating them on the misreported measles case.
"Our staff acted swiftly to share the initial report to ensure the safety and health of our students, which is always our top priority," Principal Jennifer MacAllister wrote in the letter. "While the information turned out to be incorrect, we remain committed to keeping you informed about any potential health concerns."
She added that she understands if the situation worried families.
"To prevent a similar incident in the future, we will review our notification and communication protocols," she wrote. "Our goal is to ensure that information is verified as thoroughly as possible before being shared with the community while still addressing potential health concerns promptly and responsibly."
Symptoms of measles include a rash that looks like flat red spots, fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and small white spots in the mouth. The rash often begins on a patient’s face before spreading over the body.
Although measles is highly infectious, it is also rare. But people who have not received the measles vaccine may develop life-threatening complications if they contract the airborne disease.
As of Nov. 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported there have been 277 measles cases in the U.S. this year — none of them in Texas.
When contacted by KUT on Thursday afternoon, a representative for Austin Public Health said the public health department had not yet received a report of a local measles case. A representative for the Texas Department of State Health Services said DSHS was also unaware of any confirmed measles cases. On Friday morning, APH confirmed the case was not measles.
