Colorado has reported its 15th case of measles in a fully vaccinated adult from Boulder County, with the patient recently traveling to Europe where the disease is on the rise. The state health department has identified several locations where exposure may have occurred and is urging people to monitor for symptoms for 21 days.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Measles is contagious four days before and after the rash appears, but it only spreads from people showing symptoms. Unvaccinated individuals are at risk of complications, including ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, immune amnesia, and death.
People who believe they may have been exposed should get vaccinated as soon as possible, with treatment available within 72 hours of exposure. However, the two-dose MMR vaccine has a 97% efficacy rate against infection, meaning about three in every 100 people can still get infected if exposed to the virus. Vaccinated individuals tend to develop milder symptoms and are less likely to spread it to others.
This marks the first time Colorado has seen this many measles cases since 1996, with a total of 15 confirmed cases across the state. The majority have been reported in Arapahoe and El Paso counties, with one case each in Pueblo and Pagosa Springs.
Source: https://www.denver7.com/lifestyle/health/cdphe-announces-states-15th-case-of-measles-in-fully-vaccinated-boulder-county-adult