Measles exposure at Great Wolf Lodge and Grapevine Mills Mall in North Texas prompts health warning
An individual who visited two North Texas venues in late March tested positive for measles and was contagious during their visits, according to Tarrant County Public Health.
The person, who was in Grapevine between March 28 and March 30, exposed others while at the Great Wolf Lodge and Grapevine Mills Mall, TCPH said in a news release Friday.
They were at:
- Great Wolf Lodge (100 Great Wolf Dr.) from early morning on Friday, March 28, through the evening of Sunday, March 30.
- Grapevine Mills Mall (3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy) on Saturday, March 29, "walking around the mall and eating at the food court," the department said.
Monitoring situation
According to TCPH, the department is monitoring the situation with the Texas Department of State Health Services Regional Office, noting that measles is "highly contagious, spread via air or contaminated surfaces, and can lead to serious health complications."
"Measles can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area," TCPH said.
Could be at risk
The department said anyone who was at either location during the individual's visit and hadn't been vaccinated could be at risk.
Unvaccinated and pregnant individuals, or those who are immunocompromised, should contact their health care provider immediately to discuss potential exposure.
Those at the venues between March 28 and 30 should monitor for measles symptoms through April 20.
Dr. David Winter with Baylor Scott & White Health said anyone who went to the Grapevine Mills Mall or Great Wolf Lodge during the same time as the infected person should be concerned.
"This is the most contagious virus on the planet," Winter said. "If somebody walks by you or walks through a room of people and those people are not vaccinated, 90% of those people will come down with the measles. It's highly contagious if you just walk by them, and the virus stays in the air or on touch surfaces for two hours."
Winter said anyone who may have been exposed and who isn't vaccinated against measles should immediately contact their doctor.
Great Wolf Lodge responds
Grapevine Mills Mall hasn't replied to a request for comment. Great Wolf Lodge sent CBS News Texas the following statement:
"The safety and well-being of our guests and pack members is always our top priority, and we are supporting Tarrant County Health Department as they investigate a guest who arrived at our resort potentially contagious with measles last month. The Health Department confirmed that considering how the virus is transmitted and the timing for when the guest was at our resort, there is no ongoing concern for current or future guests to our resort."
A growing number of cases in the U.S.
Just over three months into 2025, the United States has recorded the highest number of measles cases in a single year since the 2019 outbreak, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The majority of infections have been reported in a West Texas outbreak, which has resulted in the death of a child.
In Texas alone, the number of cases has exceeded 480 and continues to rise. Nationwide, cases have surpassed 600, with infections confirmed in 21 states.
What should you look for?
Symptoms, according to TCPH, include:
- Fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
- Cough, runny nose, or conjunctivitis (red eyes)
- Followed by a red, blotchy rash starting at the hairline/scalp and behind the ears, then progressing down the body
If symptoms develop:
- Stay home and away from others.
- Contact your health care provider for guidance.
- Call before visiting a clinic or hospital to prevent possible exposure to others.
What the doctor says
"Ideally, you will stay home for four days in quarantine just in case," Winter said. "The symptoms you're going to look for are runny nose, sore throat, red eyes, and then if you look carefully, little white spots in the back of your throat."
There's been some talk of vitamin A helping prevent measles. Winter said mega doses of it may do more harm than good.
"There were some children in West Texas who thought that they could avoid measles by taking vitamin A," Winter said. "They took large doses, and they now have liver problems with liver failure."
Winter encourages parents to vaccinate their children since the virus can be deadly for the unvaccinated.
"A lot of kids who get it get well on their own, but some get pneumonia. There's been blindness reported, encephalitis, brain swelling, and even death, so measles is a bad disease," Winter said.
