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DENVER COUNTY, Colo. — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) on Monday announced the state's second confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated Denver County infant under 1 year old.

CDPHE said the infant recently traveled with family to an area of Chihuahua, Mexico, that is experiencing an "ongoing measles outbreak." Doctors do not believe that this case is linked to Colorado's other measles case in Pueblo.

Babies normally receive the routine dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 to 15 months, according to the agency.

“Infants under 12 months are especially vulnerable to measles because they are typically too young to be vaccinated. This case is a stark reminder that families traveling internationally should delay unnecessary travel or talk to their health care providers about early MMR vaccination for infants, especially when visiting areas with known measles outbreaks,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer at CDPHE, in a statement. “We’re incredibly grateful to our partners at Denver Health and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment for their swift action, expertise, and collaboration in identifying this case and protecting the broader community.”

According to CDPHE, people who visited the Denver Health Emergency Department on Sunday, April 6 between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. could have been exposed to the disease.

Symptoms typically develop 7 to 21 days after exposure and include:

CDPHE said anyone who visited the Denver Health ED on April 6 should monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days after exposure. They should also consider avoiding public gatherings or "high-risk settings."

This is the state's second confirmed case of measles amid recent outbreaks across the country. Colorado's first confirmed case was reported on March 31 in an unvaccinated Pueblo adult who recently traveled to an area of Mexico "experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak."

Prior to these two cases, Colorado had not seen a case of the disease since December 2023, which involved an international traveler who arrived in Colorado.

According to the state health department, measles is highly contagious and often severe but is preventable with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are roughly 97% effective in preventing the disease, according to CDPHE.

Briefline

State health officials announced late Monday that they had confirmed a case of measles in a Pueblo resident.

It’s Colorado’s first confirmed measles case since 2023 and just its third case in the last nine years. It comes amid an alarming rise in measles outbreaks nationwide, including several clusters in west Texas that have caused at least one death of an unvaccinated child. Falling rates of vaccination, fueled by anti-vaccine conspiracy theories like those spread by newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have preceded many of those outbreaks.

In a press release, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said the Pueblo case was confirmed in an unvaccinated adult who had “recently traveled to an area of Mexico experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak.”

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The World Health Organization has linked several reported measles cases in Mexico to the Texas outbreak. Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado’s deputy chief medical officer and state epidemiologist, told reporters Tuesday that it’s likely that the Colorado case is related, but information about where the individual traveled in Mexico is being withheld due to privacy concerns.

“We won’t know until we can get some definitive information through … DNA sequencing on this particular virus that we’ve isolated from the Colorado patient,” Herlihy said. “To know definitively, it will be several more days at least, but we do believe that it certainly is a possibility.”

Measles is a highly contagious and often severe disease that causes symptoms including fever, cough and a characteristic rash. Cases in the U.S. plummeted following the introduction of a vaccine in the 1960s, and two doses of the combined measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine provides about 97% protection against infection.

Colorado had the nation’s sixth-lowest rate of MMR vaccine coverage for kindergarteners in the 2023-24 school year, with an estimated only 88.3% of kindergarten students vaccinated, according to federal data. State law requires K-12 students to receive the MMR vaccine and five others, but allows for broad exemptions on medical or religious grounds.

​​“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know, but it is also highly preventable,” Herlihy said in a statement Monday. “The MMR vaccine provides excellent protection and helps prevent outbreaks like the one we are seeing globally. We urge Coloradans to review their vaccination status and take steps to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Based on initial information, CDPHE officials say that Pueblo residents who visited the Southwest Deli and Cafe at 1873 S. Pueblo Blvd. between March 17 and March 21, or the Southern Colorado Clinic at 109 South Burlington Drive on the afternoon of March 22, may have been exposed to measles. People who were exposed should monitor for symptoms for at least three weeks after exposure and avoid public gatherings, especially if they are unvaccinated.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:06 a.m., April 1, 2025, to include additional statements from CDPHE officials.

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CDPHE said one unvaccinated adult in Pueblo has a confirmed case of measles. There are two known exposure locations.

PUEBLO, Colo. — One measles case has been confirmed in Colorado, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced Monday.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is often severe, but it is preventable. CDPHE said two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing measles.

CDPHE and the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated adult who lives in Pueblo, the departments said. The person recently traveled to an area of Mexico experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak.

There are two known exposure locations at this time:

Based on available information, CDPHE said anyone who was in the two locations during the dates listed may have been exposed to measles. If you were in those locations on those dates, CDPHE said you should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings.

“The good news is that this individual has not traveled outside of Pueblo, and so we believe it is limited to Pueblo," Pueblo Health Director Randy Evetts said.

According to staff members at the Southwest Deli and Cafe, the infected person works in the kitchen at the business. Staff members said they believe she's the only person who is not vaccinated at the restaurant.

CDPHE leaders said they're continuing to investigate if anyone else may have come into contact with the worker.

CDPHE said 94% of Coloradans are vaccinated against measles.

"Measles is actually the most transmissible infectious disease that we know of, so much more infectious than COVID-19, much more infectious than influenza," State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said. "The good news, of course, is that measles is highly preventable. We have a highly effective vaccine."

> Colorado health officials provided an update Tuesday on measles in the state:

What to do if you may have been exposed and aren’t feeling well

CDPHE said people exposed to measles typically develop symptoms 7-21 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a characteristic rash that usually starts several days later on the face and then spreads.

If you were at one of these locations during the exposure window and develop symptoms, CDPHE said you should immediately call your health care provider, urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles.

Protecting yourself and others

CDPHE said people who have received the MMR vaccine or were born before 1957 are generally considered immune to measles.

The department said If you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, it is especially important to closely monitor for symptoms during the 21 days after a possible exposure. According to CDPHE, if additional cases occur, the MMR vaccine, given within 72 hours after exposure, can prevent infection.

Health officials confirmed a case of measles Monday in a Colorado resident from Pueblo who had recently traveled to an area of Mexico where there’s an ongoing measles outbreak.

The case was in an unvaccinated adult, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment said in a joint press release. They urged Coloradans to check their vaccination status, monitor for symptoms, and be aware if they were at a pair of possible exposure locations, both in Pueblo, starting Monday, March 17.

“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know, but it is also highly preventable,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, deputy chief medical officer and state epidemiologist. “The MMR vaccine provides excellent protection and helps prevent outbreaks like the one we are seeing globally. We urge Coloradans to review their vaccination status and take steps to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Outbreaks have been popping up around the country, including in Texas and New Mexico, with cases for 2025 already at higher levels than all of last year.

As of March 27, a total of 483 confirmed measles cases were reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s been recorded in 19 states: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

Colorado is the 20th state with a recent measles case.

Health officials, in their release, posted locations where people could have been exposed to measles They include a deli and cafe, Southwest Deli and Cafe in Pueblo, and a clinic, Southern Colorado Clinic Pueblo West, where people could have been exposed to it. They said those who were there recently should “monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings.” Monitoring for symptoms is key for people who are not vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. They said they would update the locations, as needed.

People who were at the deli between Monday, March 17 and Friday, March 21 and the clinic on Saturday, March 22, should monitor for symptoms and consider avoiding public gatherings and high-risk settings, public officials said.

What to do if you think you’ve been exposed to measles and how to protect yourself

Measles symptoms typically develop seven to 21 days after exposure. They include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and what measles is best known for, a rash. It usually starts on the face several days after exposure and spreads.

Health officials urge people who were in one of the locations during the exposure period and developed symptoms to immediately contact their health care provider by phone.

If you don’t have a provider, they said to call an urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles.

Calling ahead is a safety precaution that can prevent additional exposures to other people, according to the release.

Those who have received the MMR vaccine or were born before 1957 are generally considered immune, according to the release. Health officials recommended all Coloradans make sure they and their children are up to date on MMR vaccinations. The MMR vaccine has been available for decades.

Some adults, not just kids, may need to get an MMR vaccine as well, according to infectious disease experts.

People who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should closely monitor for symptoms during the 21 days after a possible exposure. If you’re exposed to the virus, getting the MMR vaccine within 72 hours after exposure can prevent infection.

Unvaccinated individuals, or those who aren’t sure of their immunity should talk to their health care provider about receiving the MMR vaccine. More information on vaccination and exposure to the virus is available from the CDC.

A child’s immunization records can be checked through the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) Public Portal, though records may be incomplete if all vaccines have not been reported by providers.

Public health officials were not available to comment Monday but they said they would comment on the measles case Tuesday.

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