Successful public health response limits spread of measles

Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) is officially scaling back its measles response after 37 days of active operations. The decision follows the successful containment of measles cases in the community.

“Our team’s quick response, paired with high vaccination coverage in our community, has been key in limiting measles transmission,” said Erin Minnerath, Deputy Director at MCPH. “This is a clear example of how public health measures protect our community.”

To date, we have seven confirmed cases of measles. No new cases have been identified in recent weeks, and the risk to the public remains low.
 

Throughout the response, MCPH carried out:

• Public updates to keep the community informed
   
• Case investigations and thorough contact tracing for people who may have been exposed
   
• In coordination with healthcare partners, provided post-exposure prophylaxis to high-risk contacts to prevent illness
   
• Recurring briefings with medical providers to offer situational awareness and guidance on testing.

MCPH partnered closely with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), working together to share technical expertise and provide added support during peak investigation periods.

Many MCPH staff worked extended hours and weekends throughout the response, demonstrating exceptional dedication well beyond the initial escalation.

Community partnerships at the core

Partnerships played a critical role in the response. We worked closely with local medical providers to provide testing guidance and coordinate testing. We also were in communication with large organizations like School District 51 and Colorado Mesa University to help share accurate information within their communities.

Moving forward

While the emergency phase is winding down, monitoring and prevention efforts continue. MCPH urges all community members to stay up to date on vaccinations. Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing infection.

“The work doesn’t stop here- our team continues to monitor and respond to infectious disease in our community. The low risk to the public is a testament to the power of vaccines and the importance of public health systems working quickly to contain disease,” Minnerath said.

The measles information line established during the response will now be redirected to MCPH’s main Infoline. For questions about measles, vaccines, or other MCPH services, call 970-248-6900 or visit mesacounty.us/health.

Response by the numbers

• 7 confirmed cases of measles
• Activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for 37 consecutive days during the measles response
• 27 MCPH staff members dedicated to response efforts, with many cross-trained to support critical roles
• Over 500 hours of Incident Command operations hours  
• Nearly 100 inquiries per day fielded by our Disease Surveillance Team at peak times
• Hosted 4 medical provider town hall meetings with over 35 participants  
• Contract tracing was conducted with more than 300 contacts who may have been exposed
• More than 50 contacts were actively monitored during this response