DENVER (KDVR) — A third case of measles was confirmed in Pagosa Springs, which is part of Archuleta County, the day after the second case was confirmed.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said that an adult Archuleta County resident has been confirmed to have contracted measles. The individual’s vaccination history is currently unknown, and health officials said that as of Tuesday, they do not believe the case is linked to the case announced Monday in Denver, or the case announced last month in Pueblo.
Baby infected with measles in Denver, marking second case in Colorado
Both prior cases were connected to trips to areas of Mexico where ongoing measles outbreaks have been reported. CDPHE did not provide any information about where the Archuleta County resident may have contracted measles.
CDPHE said the person sought medical care at a clinic in their community on March 31 and was contagious between March 26 and April 3. Based on that information, CDPHE is providing the following locations and times where Coloradans may have been exposed to measles.
Those locations and times are:
|
Wolf Creek Ski Area and Resort |
Friday, March 28, all day.Saturday, March 29, all day.Sunday, March 30, all day. |
|
Pagosa Medical Group |
Monday, March 31, 9:05 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.Wednesday, April 2, 3:45 – 6 p.m. |
|
City Market |
Monday, March 31, 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. |
CDPHE said measles symptoms typically take seven to 21 days to develop and include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a characteristic rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads.
“This case does not appear to be linked to the other cases reported in Colorado and the individual did not travel outside of Colorado, which leaves open the possibility of community transmission,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in a release. “We urge Coloradans to monitor for symptoms if they may have been exposed, and to make sure they are up to date on their MMR vaccinations.”
Measles case announced Monday in Denver
The case announced Monday involved an infant under a year old. CDPHE noted that the MMR vaccine is typically provided at 12 to 15 months old, but an early dose can be obtained if there is travel planned near an outbreak area.
CDPHE said that anyone who was at the Denver Health emergency department on Bannock Street in Pavilion A on Sunday, April 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., should monitor for symptoms for the next 21 days.
Measles case confirmed in Colorado resident who recently traveled internationally
About 93.7% of Colorado children have the MMR vaccination, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. That’s below the goal threshold of 95% for community immunity.
CDPHE told FOX31 in February that the last confirmed case of measles in the state was reported in December 2023, and that most of the time, measles cases occur in Colorado after travel or in under-vaccinated communities. There are measles cases in 22 states, according to information published by the Centers for Disease Control on April 3.
Two doses of the MMR vaccination are about 97% effective in preventing measles, CDPHE said. The agency also urged families traveling internationally with children too young to be vaccinated to reconsider travel to areas with ongoing measles outbreaks.
Coloradans can check their own or their child’s immunization records through the state’s Immunization Information System public portal. If your provider has not reported vaccines, some records may be incomplete.
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