SAN MARCOS — The Hays County Commissioners Court listened to a presentation from Hays County Health Department Director Matthew Gonzales regarding the response to the measles outbreak.
The presentation detailed the events that occurred following the February 2025 measles exposure that happened in San Marcos.
On Feb. 14, a visitor from Gaines County was on a public tour of Texas State University’s campus, where up to 60 individuals were potentially exposed, and then, as previously reported by the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch, visited the restaurant Twin Peaks.
“What I really want to talk about today is the type of response that happened and some of the lessons learned that we, as a department, but also as a county, really learn from things that happened, but also that we’re really transparent with our community in the situation that unfolded,” said Gonzales.
According to the director, responding agencies included the Texas Department of State Health Services (DHS), Texas State University, the Capital Area of Texas Regional Trauma Advisory Council and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness.
DHS notified Hays County of the possible exposure Feb. 21, said Gonzales. Later that night, the Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness Team was deployed. On Feb. 22, the case was confirmed positive, raising the threat risk. So, first responders and those involved in emergency services were notified to begin working on website updates, toolkits and press releases.
“There are three main objectives for us in the measles response and the primary, the main one [is to] begin establishing and maintaining the emergency support function number eight, which is public health and medical services, making sure that our providers and partners were aware of what is going on and understood the protocol that needed to happen and the types of resources that they’re going to need,” Gonzales explained. “Lastly, clear and concise, consistent, effective and equitable communication in accordance with the national incident management and public health practice.”
The presentation then listed “core capabilities” and the county’s rating in response to the situation, with the most common being “S,” meaning that the county performed with “some challenges,” said Gonzales, but that this is normal. These core capabilities include: coordination operation, information sharing, operation coordination internally, public information and warning and public health, healthcare and emergency medical services.
The biggest lesson was discovering that the county had a good strength in partnerships, which has been curated after COVID-19, when the county began a task force for designated control officers across the county for each responding agency.
During the time of the emergency response, there were two leaks that occurred. So, now the agencies will be using watermarks to aid in determining where the leaks came from, said Gonzales.
“Overall, the performance with measles was a great example of the health department learning everything we did through COVID, though Monkeypox, West Nile; we had a great improvement in our capability to respond with a timeline of, say, 72 hours for the emergency,” concluded the director.
Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe questioned the leak that occurred, to which Gonzales explained that Texas State University was an external leak, while Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra was the internal, which required the county to work hastily.
“If I’m not mistaken, I did not create the comment that I shared. That was created for me,” said Becerra. “So, if there are concerns with the messaging that comes out or the timing, I think it's important that we reflect on the department … I am grateful that if there is an internal leak, as you call it, I would ask that you first realize that the leak was mischaracterized. The framing is not appreciated because it is not a leak when you provide it and you also provide what time to release it. That is not a leak. So, I want to set the record straight … If anyone wants receipts I have them.”
Gonzales reaffirmed that it is labeled as a leak because there was a timeline that was given and it was not followed: “I would not mischaracterize something. That information was not ready for us to share and it was a detriment to our staff because we weren’t able to respond as effectively.”
The judge noted that he has a track record of being respectful to press releases, deaths and more until it is time to respond, so that this fault should not be placed on him. Commissioner Walt Smith disagreed.
“That statement made earlier is just, it was too much for me … I’ve seen a Facebook Live at an active response site, where a car literally has just wrecked and you’re there live on Facebook and if I was that victim’s family, I would have been livid,” said Smith, explaining that this isn’t the first time the Becerra posted information that could affect the county early.
Gonzales concluded by noting that this was a learning experience for everyone involved and that everyone can and will do better in the future.
The Hays County Commissioners Court will next meet May 20.
