By TX3DNews Staff | April 18, 2025
COLLIN COUNTY, TX — While many in Texas’ 3rd Congressional District were focused on playoff buzz and preparing for Easter weekend, a serious public health alert quietly dropped: a confirmed case of measles exposure in Plano.
According to an April 17 public notice from Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS), an individual with measles visited three retail locations while contagious, potentially exposing the public.
Exposure Locations & Dates
- Walmart – 6001 N. Central Expressway, Plano
April 10 (time unknown)
April 11 from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM on April 12 - Ross Dress for Less – 3300 N. Central Expressway, Plano
April 11 between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM - Dollar Tree – 2404 K Avenue, Plano
April 11 (evening, time not confirmed)
Why It Matters
Measles is not a harmless childhood disease—it’s a highly contagious, potentially deadly virus. It can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area and spreads quickly among the unvaccinated or immunocompromised.
And this isn’t an isolated case.
According to the latest CDC data, there are now 800 confirmed measles cases across 25 states, with Texas leading the nation at 597 cases. Health officials have warned this marks the most significant outbreak in decades—driven largely by declining vaccination rates and lagging public awareness. An estimated 96% of cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or whose status is unknown.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services has proposed steep cuts to its public health budget, which could gut vaccine outreach programs just as outbreaks are spreading. The result? Less information, less protection—and a virus that’s moving faster than the response.
What to Watch For
If you were at any of the listed stores during the exposure windows—and especially if you are unvaccinated, pregnant, or immunocompromised—contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Watch for symptoms through April 20:
- Fever
- Cough, sore throat, or runny nose
- Red, irritated eyes
- White spots inside the mouth
- A blotchy red rash starting at the hairline and spreading downward
If symptoms develop, stay home, call your doctor, and avoid contact with others.
The MMR vaccine remains the most effective defense. Learn more at CDC.gov/measles.
Where’s Rep. Keith Self?
This isn’t just a public health alert—it’s a moment of accountability for our local leadership.
As of publication, Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) has made no public statement about the confirmed measles exposure in his own district. No press release. No Facebook update. No tweet.
We called his congressional office and left a voicemail asking whether his team has coordinated with local or state health authorities or has plans to update the public. We are still waiting on a response.
This is the same congressman who has no problem jumping online to criticize other elected officials for not picking up the phone to support crime victims—but now he won’t lift a finger to reassure his own constituents during a real-time public health concern?
You can’t demand accountability from others while hiding behind silence at home.
Final Word
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about panic. It’s about preparedness.
We don’t need fear—we need facts. TX-03 residents deserve to know what’s happening and how to protect themselves. And they deserve elected officials who treat public health like the urgent, real-world issue it is.
If you or your family were affected by this exposure, or if you’re a healthcare worker seeing the impact firsthand, contact us confidentially at: staff@tx3dnews.com