Colorado health officials have confirmed a case of measles in a baby residing in Denver County. The infant, less than one year old and unvaccinated due to their age, recently returned from an international trip to Chihuahua, Mexico, where a significant measles outbreak is currently underway.
This marks the state’s second confirmed measles case this year; officials have indicated that it is unrelated to an earlier case reported in Pueblo. The ongoing situation underscores the vulnerability of very young children to this highly contagious disease.
“Infants under 12 months are particularly susceptible to measles because they are typically too young for vaccination,” stated Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Health officials emphasized the importance of travel precautions, advising families planning international trips to consider delaying non-essential travel or consulting healthcare providers about early measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination for infants, particularly when visiting areas experiencing outbreaks.
Individuals who visited the Denver Health Emergency Department on Sunday, April 6th between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time are urged to monitor themselves for symptoms and avoid public gatherings or high-risk environments. The MMR vaccine can provide protection if administered within 72 hours of potential exposure.
Symptoms typically appear between seven and twenty-one days following exposure, initially presenting as fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. These are followed by a facial rash that progressively spreads across the body.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for children: The first between 12 to 15 months of age and the second between ages four and six.
Nationwide, as of April 3rd, a total of 607 measles cases have been confirmed across 22 jurisdictions. These include:
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York City
- New York State
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
