Health officials give update Tuesday after measles case is confirmed in southern Colorado

PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) - Health officials are warning citizens of potential exposure after a case of measles was confirmed in Pueblo.

According to the state health department, an unvaccinated adult resident visited an area of Mexico experiencing a measles outbreak, then returned to work following that trip. On March 22, that person went to an urgent care and was tested for measles. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) says that test came back positive Monday, though the patient is now over the infection and is doing well.

Officials say the case is likely tied to the outbreak in the U.S., which is already closing in on 500 cases in more than 20 states in just the first three months of 2025, but more testing is needed to be certain.

In an email released jointly by the CDPHE and Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE), there are concerns that others in Pueblo may have been exposed between March 17-22.

“Based on available information, anyone who was in the following locations during the dates listed may have been exposed to measles and should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings,” the email read.

Those locations are:

Southwest Deli and Cafe at 1873 S. Pueblo Blvd. between March 17-21

Southern Colorado Clinic at 109 S. Burlington Drive between 3:30-6 p.m. on March 22

Health officials do not believe the patient has left Pueblo since returning from their trip and currently do not know of any other potential exposure sites within the city.

Both CDPHE and PDPHE are strongly urging anyone who is experiencing measles symptoms to not visit a medical facility without calling first, so that arrangements can be made to minimize exposure.

The health departments reiterated in a news conference Tuesday that while measles is one of the most contagious diseases out there -- “It is much more infectious than COVID-19, much more infectious than influenza,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy -- it can be prevented with a vaccine. One dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 94 percent effective; two doses are 97 percent effective in protecting an individual from measles.

Health officials said the vaccine offers lifelong protection, but if anyone unsure that they were vaccinated as a child or if they were vaccinated earlier than 1968, to contact their health provider to see if another dose is needed.

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