Colorado health officials have confirmed another measles case in Mesa County, bringing the state’s total to 20 so far this year.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Mesa County resident had no known link to other recent exposures in the state and had not traveled outside Colorado. Mesa County Public Health is now investigating the case.
“The lack of a clear source of infection suggests that this case may be the result of community transmission in the Grand Junction area,” officials said in a statement.
People who visited the following locations may have been exposed:
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Landmark Baptist Church and School, 1600 Ute Ave., Grand Junction, between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 7. Symptoms may appear through Aug. 28.
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Landmark Baptist Church and School, 1600 Ute Ave., Grand Junction, between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 8. Symptoms may appear through Aug. 29.
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Chick-fil-A, 1730 N Ave., between 3 p.m. and midnight on Aug. 8. Symptoms may appear through Aug. 30.
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Burger King, 1730 N Ave., between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Aug. 9. Symptoms may appear through Aug. 30.
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Community Hospital Emergency Department, 2351 G Road, between 7 p.m. on Aug. 11 and 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 12. Symptoms may appear through Sept. 2.
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Community Hospital Emergency Department, 2351 G Road, between 5:18 p.m. and 7:33 p.m. on Aug. 14. Symptoms may appear through Sept. 4.
Health officials urge anyone who was at these places during the exposure times and later develops symptoms to call their doctor, urgent care, or an emergency department before visiting, to help prevent further spread.
Measles symptoms typically develop one to three weeks after exposure. They include fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body.
Officials noted that more than half of Colorado’s 20 measles cases this year, including the Mesa County case, involved people who had not received the MMR vaccine. Unvaccinated individuals can lower their risk by getting vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure. Two doses of the vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles.
Five people infected in Colorado this year have been hospitalized, a sharp increase compared to the two or fewer cases the state usually reports annually.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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