G.J. reports measles case with lots of potential exposure for Mesa County residents

By Michale Booth. Republished with permission from the Colorado Sun.

Colorado health officials are warning Mesa County residents of potential measles exposure after an unvaccinated county resident contracted the disease, apparently from within the community.

The new measles patient had not traveled outside the state or reported any other exposures to previously reported measles cases around Colorado, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a news release Friday afternoon. “The lack of a clear source of infection suggests that this case may be the result of community transmission in the Grand Junction area,” the state said, adding that Mesa County Public Health is investigating further.

The adult patient had not received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

The new case brings to 20 the number of measles cases statewide in 2025, with 13 of those cases coming in patients who were not vaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. Six of the cases came in patients who had previously received two or more doses of MMR vaccine, and one case was a breakthrough after one dose.

The new Grand Junction patient traveled around town a great deal while potentially contagious, the state release said, and officials included a chart showing where and when others might have come in contact, from Aug. 7 through 14. The locations range from Grand Junction Community Hospital to Landmark Baptist Church, to a Chick-fil-A and a Burger King. Area residents who might have been at those locations during those times should limit their contact with others for about 21 days to make sure they do not come down with their own symptoms. Measles is highly contagious, and the vaccines are highly effective.

Residents who are concerned about contact should watch out for symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, “followed by a rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads.”

Those who were exposed can still benefit from getting an MMR vaccine within 72 hours of the exposure.

If other Mesa County residents do develop symptoms, state officials ask that patients not go unannounced to urgent care or an ER. They should call their medical provider to learn of their preferred arrangement to avoid exposing others.