The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, along with Tri-County Health Department and Denver Public Heath, are warning of possible exposure to an individual with measles from Dec. 21 to 29, 2016, who was at a wide variety of locations in the Denver-Boulder area.
The individual with measles was an unvaccinated adult who traveled internationally. Though measles cases are unusual in the U.S., many foreign countries continue to have large numbers of measles cases. According to Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer of CDPHE, “It is important to make sure you are protected against measles, especially when traveling outside the U.S. Vaccination is the only effective preventive measure against measles. Children as young as 6 months old can receive a vaccination for protection, and adults should make sure they are protected too.”
People visiting the following locations on the following dates may have been exposed to measles (times are approximate)
• Westerra Credit Union 14305 E. Alameda Ave., Aurora, 80012 12/21/2016 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• King Soopers Buckley Square 17000 E. Iliff Ave., Aurora 80013 12/21/2016 from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Vitamin Cottage 3440 S. Tower Road, Aurora, 80013 12/21/2016 from 1 -5 p.m. and 12/27/2016 from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
• Walmart Supercenter Pioneer Hills 5650 S. Chambers Rd., Aurora, 80015 12/21/2016 from 2:30- 5:30 p.m.
• Alfalfa’s Market 785 E. South Boulder Road, Louisville, 80027 12/22/2016 from 2 – 4 p.m.
• T Mobile 1590 28th St., Boulder, 80303 12/22/2016 from 3 – 5:30 p.m.
• uBreakiFix 1136 Spruce St., Boulder, 80302 12/22/2016 from 3:30 – 7 p.m.
• Rebecca’s Apothecary 1227 Spruce St., Boulder, 80302 12/22/2016 from 5 – 8:30 p.m.
• Falafel King 1314 Pearl St., Boulder, 80302 12/22/2016 from 5 – 7 p.m.
• Flatirons Mall, specifically, T Mobile and Brookstone 1 W. Flatiron Crossing Dr., Broomfield, 80021 12/22/2016 from 6 – 10 p.m.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill 1644 E. Evans Ave., Denver, 80210 12/22/2016 from 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
• Dollar Tree Englewood Plaza 351 W. Englewood Parkway, Englewood, 80110 12/23/2016 from 5 – 7 p.m.
• Walmart Supercenter 601 Englewood Parkway, Englewood, 80110 12/23/2016 from 4 – 7 p.m.
• Sprouts Farmers Market 2880 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, 80222 12/23/2016 from 6 – 8 p.m.
• AFC Urgent Care 760 S Colorado Blvd., Denver, 80246 12/27/2016 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• T Mobile Blvd Center 1685 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, 80222 12/27/2016 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Lifetime Fitness 5000 E. Dry Creek Rd, Centennial, 80122 12/27/2016 from 1 – 4 p.m.
• Parker Adventist Hospital Emergency Department 9395 Crown Crest Blvd., Parker, 80138 12/29/2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on 12/30/2016
The health department advises anyone in the locations — on the specific dates and times listed– to watch for symptoms of measles.
Symptoms of measles typically begin 7 to 14 days after exposure, but may take up to 21 days to appear. They typically include fever, runny nose, red eyes that are sensitive to light and coughing. Two to four days after the first symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
A person with measles is contagious for four days before the rash appears and up to four days after the rash. People with measles symptoms should NOT go to any child care facilities, school, work or out in public, since they may spread the disease to others.
If you develop symptoms of possible measles, call your doctor’s office first to tell the staff about your symptoms. Do not go inside the doctor’s office or hospital, because measles is highly contagious. The doctor might meet you outside the medical office to protect other patients and visitors.
Parents should review their child’s vaccination records to ensure their child has received measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Recommendations for routine childhood vaccination are for two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at age 1 year through 15 months and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years before school entry. Health care workers, international travelers and students in post-high school educational institutions also should have received two doses of MMR vaccine. For more information, call the COHELP InfoLine at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911.
In 2013 there were 187 cases in the U.S., 667 in 2014, and 189 in 2015. There was one case in Colorado in 2015 and one case in 2016.
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