Officials in Colorado have confirmed the first case of measles in a state resident in five years.
The patient, a teenager, had traveled internationally to several countries and returned to Denver International Airport on Dec. 13, according to the state health department. This is the first confirmed measles infection in a Colorado resident since January 2019.
Health officials said they did not know whether the child had been vaccinated.
Measles is highly contagious to unvaccinated people. The virus spreads through the air and can remain in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms such as fever, cough, and runny nose usually begin 1 to 2 weeks after infection, but can take up to 3 weeks. Two days after these initial symptoms begin, he develops a rash, which usually starts at his hairline and spreads throughout his body.
State health officials were either at Denver International Airport from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 13 or at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado emergency room on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday. They were warning unvaccinated people in the room. The hospital planned to notify patients and families in similar areas at the same time.
“People who are experiencing measles symptoms should stay home unless they need medical treatment,” Colorado state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said in an emailed news release. “Persons with signs and symptoms of measles should not go to children’s homes, schools, workplaces, or other public places to avoid exposing others to this very serious and highly contagious disease. Please don’t.”
Measles is a serious infection that can cause complications such as seizures, brain damage, ear infections, pneumonia, and death. Health officials said getting the measles vaccine within 72 hours of exposure can prevent infection.
People can check their child’s vaccination status through Colorado’s website. Online immunization database.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humanity.to 90% of people According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who are unvaccinated or don’t have immunity can get measles if they come into close contact with someone who is contagious. The new coronavirus is estimated to be four to six times more contagious than the original version of the coronavirus.
However, vaccination can dramatically reduce infection. The two-dose series of MMR measles vaccine is 97% effective in preventing infection, while the one-dose series is 93% effective. According to the CDC.
Colorado has struggled to maintain high measles vaccination rates. Last year, 86.8% of kindergarteners statewide were vaccinated against measles, the lowest level since 2017. In some schools, the percentage remained at 20%.
To achieve so-called “herd immunity” (the vaccination rate needed to protect unvaccinated people from an outbreak), a measles vaccination rate of at least 95% is required. This means that Colorado has a growing population of children who could be at risk for a measles outbreak if an outbreak occurs in the wrong place.