The continuing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico is edging nearer to Colorado, at the least geographically.
4 circumstances — and probably a fifth — have been reported within the Texas Panhandle county of Dallam, which sits about 35 miles south of Colorado’s southern border, separated by the Oklahoma Panhandle.
This doesn’t imply an outbreak is imminent in Colorado, in fact. However state well being officers have been preparing in case one is.
“Proper now we’re making certain that we’re ready,” mentioned Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist with the Colorado Division of Public Well being and Surroundings. “We all know that measles circumstances can happen at any time. However we all know the danger goes to be larger when there are giant outbreaks occurring in different components of the nation.”
So what must you be doing now and the way fearful must you be? The Solar talked to Herlihy and to Dr. Michelle Barron, an infectious illness professional at UCHealth. Listed below are some solutions.
What’s happening with this measles outbreak?
A minimum of 155 circumstances have been reported in Texas and New Mexico — with 146 of these reported in Texas.
The circumstances in Texas have been concentrated in kids, with 40 occurring in children beneath the age of 5, and 70 extra in children ages 5 by way of 17. One little one has died, the primary measles loss of life in the US since 2015.
Of the 146 circumstances in Texas, 5 have been in individuals who have been inoculated with at the least one dose of a measles vaccine. Of the remaining circumstances, 79 are in people who find themselves unvaccinated and 62 in individuals with unknown vaccination standing.
The outbreak was initially concentrated in an under-vaccinated Mennonite group in West Texas, however it has since unfold outward.
Nationwide, a complete of 164 circumstances of measles have been reported to date in 2025, together with the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks. Of these contaminated, 20% have been hospitalized.
“I need individuals to totally recognize that it is a enormous outbreak, and we’ve not seen something like this in a really very long time,” Barron mentioned.
Have there been any infections in Colorado?
There have been no measles infections in Colorado from the present outbreak. (A minimum of as of March 4, 2025, when this story was printed.)
The final measles case in a Colorado resident was in 2023. The affected person was an adolescent who had traveled overseas.
Journey is a standard supply of publicity, Barron mentioned, and Colorado usually sees a case of measles yearly or so associated to journey. However you need to go all the best way again to the mid-Nineties to search out the final time there was a domestically transmitted case of measles in Colorado, Herlihy mentioned.
Again up, what’s measles? Why is it dangerous?
Folks usually affiliate measles with its telltale crimson rash. However the illness may be rather more aggressive than that — attacking the mind and the respiratory system.
Barron mentioned the rash is often flat and never itchy. One other frequent symptom are white dots within the mouth known as Koplik spots.
The illness can even trigger ear an infection and diarrhea. Worse, the illness may cause pneumonia or swelling of the mind, which is what can result in hospitalization and loss of life. Extreme issues and deaths are commonest in kids beneath 5.
That’s dangerous sufficient, however measles additionally has a superpower: its contagiousness. The measles virus is among the many most contagious ever documented, with one contaminated individual capable of move the illness to as many as 18 different individuals. The virus is airborne and might linger within the air for so long as two hours after being exhaled by an contaminated individual.
What can individuals do to stop measles?
As with all viruses, good hygiene is useful — wash fingers completely, keep away from touching your face, put on a tight-fitting masks in settings the place you suppose you would be uncovered, and so forth. However as a result of the virus is so contagious, it may be troublesome to keep away from it in case you are vulnerable to an infection. So the important thing, Herlihy mentioned, is to make your self not vulnerable.
“We definitely wish to be sure that Coloradans which can be engaged on spring break plans are interested by vaccine plans forward of time,” she mentioned.
A two-dose sequence of the MMR vaccine, which additionally covers the ailments mumps and rubella, is 97% efficient at defending in opposition to measles.
The primary dose of MMR vaccine is often given to children round their first birthday, however it may be given to children as younger as 6 months outdated if they are going to be touring, particularly internationally. (These children will nonetheless want two doses after they flip 1.) The very best recommendation, Barron and Herlihy mentioned, is to speak to your pediatrician for steering.
I’ve already had measles or a measles vaccine. Do I want a booster?
The measles vaccine has gone by way of numerous formulation and dosing schedules through the years, creating an immunization hodgepodge, relying on whenever you have been born (assuming you bought your typical childhood vaccines as a child).
Right here’s what the state advises:
- For individuals born earlier than 1957, you have been possible uncovered to measles as a child. Prior an infection is believed to create lifelong immunity for many, so no extra vaccination is beneficial.
- For individuals born earlier than 1968, you’ll have obtained an ineffective vaccine, particularly in case you have been born from 1963 by way of 1967. You must obtain a booster dose of the MMR vaccine until you occur to know that the vaccine you obtained was a stay measles vaccine, and never an inactivated measles vaccine. In the event you’re uncertain, the advice is to get the booster.
- For individuals born from 1968 to 1989, you possible obtained just one dose of MMR. There is no such thing as a total advice for these of us to get a booster dose, since one dose of MMR is 93% efficient. However Barron mentioned individuals on this group who didn’t get a second dose later in life could wish to get a booster, particularly in case you stay or work round younger kids.
Herlihy and Barron mentioned there isn’t any identified hurt in getting a booster in case you are uncertain of your vaccination standing. Once more, although, speaking it by way of along with your physician is the perfect coverage.
Does Colorado have a excessive measles vaccination fee?
Colorado is among the many states with the bottom measles vaccination charges within the nation for school-age kids. That has lengthy been true, however the COVID pandemic — each the dearth of entry to well being care that many households skilled throughout the pandemic, in addition to the rising ranges of vaccine skepticism — made it worse.
The share of youngsters in kindergarten by way of twelfth grade who have been totally vaccinated in opposition to measles in Colorado hit its lowest degree final yr in at the least six years. Within the 2023-24 faculty yr, 93.7% of scholars had obtained a full course of the MMR vaccine.
That will sound like lots, however it’s under the goal degree for attaining herd immunity. As a result of measles is so contagious, well being specialists say 95% vaccination protection is required to make sure the illness can’t unfold inside a group.
Whereas many districts do hit that mark, there are pockets with measles vaccination protection under 80%. The state’s immunization dashboard has information by district and by faculty.
Is it time to fret but?
Barron mentioned she isn’t making an attempt to trigger alarm, however she has been shedding sleep as she worries about what might come from the rising outbreak in Texas and New Mexico. That’s why she mentioned it will be significant for individuals to know their vaccination standing.
“I don’t wish to scare individuals, however I feel individuals ought to actually bear in mind,” she mentioned.
Whereas measles has crept closest to Colorado’s southeastern border, Herlihy mentioned she doesn’t see anyone space or group extra at-risk than one other. Measles can simply as simply be unfold by somebody on a airplane or driving to the mountains for spring break.
“Actually, it’s statewide,” she mentioned of the realm she’s watching. “It’s actually troublesome to foretell.”
