DENVER (KDVR) — Two new measles cases have been announced in Colorado, this time in El Paso and Arapahoe counties.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in the El Paso County case, a child under the age of 5 years old has a confirmed case of measles after traveling with family to Ontario, Canada, where there is an ongoing measles outbreak. The child has one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, CDPHE said.
The second case involves an unvaccinated Arapahoe County adult. The person was at Denver International Airport on Tuesday, May 13, which is during the exposure period from a Turkish Airlines passenger who flew while infectious and landed at DIA.
This brings the total number of measles cases to 14 in the state, with Arapahoe, Denver and El Paso counties each having four cases, and Pueblo and Archuleta counties each having one.
Here are the possible exposure locations for measles from the newly announced cases. Anyone who was there should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and avoid public gatherings or high-risk settings.
LocationDate/timeWhen symptoms may developPowers Pointe Urgent Care
5607 Barnes Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 Tuesday, June 3
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Through June 24HCA HealthONE Aurora (Medical Center of Aurora) Emergency Department
1501 S. Potomac St.Aurora, CO 80012Thursday, June 5
4:55 – 10:05 p.m.Through June 26Safeway
1200 S. Buckley Road
Aurora, CO 80017Friday, June 6
4 – 6:15 p.m.Through June 27St. Francis Medical Center Emergency Department
6001 E. Woodmen Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Saturday, June 7
9:30 – 10:50 a.m. Through June 28UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital Emergency Department
12605 E. 16th Ave.
Aurora, CO 80045Saturday, June 7
2 – 4:10 p.m.Through June 28
There are further exposure locations in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Evergreen, Glendale, Grand Junction, Greenwood Village and Windsor. All locations and time frames have been listed on CDPHE’s website here.
Anyone who was at the above locations during the exposure window and develops symptoms should immediately contact their health provider by phone. If you do not have a provider, call urgent care or an emergency department and explain your measles exposure. Calling ahead helps limit further exposures.
Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air via coughs and sneezes. The disease can remain in the air up to two hours after the person has left. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is through the MMR vaccine, according to CDPHE. Two doses of the MMR vaccination are about 97% effective in preventing measles, CDPHE has repeatedly stated.
“In rare cases, people who are vaccinated can still get measles, but their symptoms are usually milder, and they are less likely to spread it to others,” CDPHE explained in a release.
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.
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.
