Health officials announced a new case of measles on Monday, marking the state's 17th confirmed case of the virus this year. This recent case involves a child under the age of five from Adams County, who is currently hospitalized. The child has not received the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Adams County Health Department confirmed the details in an official press release.
The hospitalized child recently traveled with family to Chihuahua, Mexico, where a significant outbreak of measles is ongoing. Health officials emphasize that measles is extremely contagious, yet entirely preventable through vaccination. They have identified a potential exposure site: the Children’s Hospital Colorado Emergency Department in Aurora, where the child may have exposed others between 6:30 and 10:15 p.m. on August 12. Anyone who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms, which could develop until September 2.
With this latest case, Colorado has recorded a total of 17 measles cases this year. The distribution of cases includes five in residents of Arapahoe County, four in Denver and El Paso counties, and one each in Adams, Archuleta, Boulder, and Pueblo counties. Notably, five individuals have been hospitalized due to measles this year, although no fatalities have been reported.
Among the confirmed cases in Colorado, ten are linked to an out-of-state traveler who was infectious during their flight. According to the state's vaccination dashboard, approximately 91.5% of Coloradans aged 1 to 18 have received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes the measles vaccine as “very safe and effective.” They note that when more than 95% of a community is vaccinated, most individuals are protected through community immunity or herd immunity.
This year’s count of 17 measles cases is a significant increase compared to previous years. In 2016, Colorado reported only two cases, and from 2014 to 2024, the state recorded either one or zero cases annually. Over the entire decade leading up to 2024, only six confirmed cases of measles were documented in Colorado.
The CDPHE has provided resources on their measles webpage, which includes information about measles symptoms, transmission, and vaccine recommendations. For those seeking more information on this year’s measles cases in Colorado or a current list of exposure locations, these resources are invaluable. To stay updated with more stories from Colorado Public Radio, visit www.cpr.org.
