El Paso health brief: measles exposures, prevention grants, and specialty-care access
El Paso, TX – February 27, 2026 – Health officials report 17 measles cases; new grants target prevention, and a family seeks faster access to treatment.
El Paso health officials are responding to a new measles report that includes cases inside the city and additional cases tied to a federal detention facility outside city jurisdiction. Separate local headlines this week also pointed to investments in prevention and mental health, and to ongoing debates over access to high-cost specialty medications.
Measles update: 17 cases reported, exposure sites listed
The City of El Paso Department of Public Health said it has confirmed four measles cases within the city. Officials also said they are aware of 13 additional cases reported at the East Montana federal facility at Fort Bliss, with case information reported through federal authorities. The city said it is coordinating with federal partners and has provided testing support and vaccine supply when requested.
In its public notice, the department identified potential public exposure locations visited Feb. 20–22, including the Apple Store at Cielo Vista Mall, Del Sol Medical Center, the Outlet Shoppes area, a Target store in the Bassett area, and several restaurants. The department said anyone who visited the listed locations during the specified times and later develops fever and rash should contact a health care provider for evaluation and testing.
To expand access to vaccination, the department said it is offering walk-in immunizations on weekdays at its Lower Valley (9341 Alameda Ave.), Henderson (721 S. Mesa St.), Northeast (9566 Railroad Dr.), and Westside (7380 Remcon Cir.) community clinics. Appointments are also available by phone, and the city has opened a measles hotline.
Healthcare and prevention: Paso del Norte Health Foundation awards grants
Paso del Norte Health Foundation announced $557,902.83 in grants supporting work across the Borderplex. KVIA reported the awards are organized around health leadership, disease prevention and management, and healthy living.
Examples cited in the report include funding for local capacity-building and prevention efforts: United Way of El Paso County received $118,396.96 and BorderRAC received $25,000. Action for Healthy Kids received $233,500 to share vaping and tobacco prevention information with at least 2,000 parents, caregivers, school staff and community practitioners. UTHealth Houston received $70,013.96 for efforts connected to prevention and management needs, while Texas A&M University’s Colonias Program received $70,000 for bilingual education focused on youth vaping prevention.
Access to specialty care: an El Paso family advocates in Washington
Another local story underscored how access decisions can affect families. KVIA reported that El Paso mother Angelina Olivera traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for her 14-year-old son, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She attended a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing where doctors and patient advocates urged lawmakers to press the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expand access to medications for rare forms of muscular dystrophy.
Sources
- https://www.elpasotexas.gov/assets/Press-Releases/2026.02.26-NEWS-RELEASE_Health-Officials-Advise-of-Potential-Measles-Exposures.pdf
- https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/san-antonio/news/2026/02/27/el-paso-reports-17-measles-cases–most-at-ice-facility
- https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/26/measles-el-paso-camp-east-montana-ice/
- https://kvia.com/news/2026/02/26/paso-del-norte-awards-funds-to-advance-regional-health/
- https://kvia.com/news/top-stories/2026/02/26/el-paso-mother-urges-access-to-duchenne-treatment/
