Coloradans who visited an RV park or a hospital in Gunnison County in mid-July should watch for symptoms after a visitor from out of state came down with measles.
People could have encountered the highly contagious virus at the following locations:
- Taylor Park Trading Post, 23044 County Road 742, Almont, between 4 and 7 p.m. July 12. Symptoms could develop through Aug. 2.
- Gunnison Valley Health Hospital, 711 N. Taylor St., Gunnison, between 3 p.m. July 16 and 10 a.m. July 17. Symptoms could develop through Aug. 8.
Anyone who visited either of those two locations within the exposure windows should watch for symptoms, and seek medical help if they develop. Calling ahead to the clinic or emergency room the person plans to visit can help prevent further exposures.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, a runny nose, red eyes and a rash that typically starts on the face. The rash usually appears about four days after a person becomes contagious.
Two doses of the measles vaccine reduce the odds of getting the virus by about 97%. Receiving the vaccine within three days of an exposure can also lower the chances of getting sick, though not by as much as getting vaccinated well in advance.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment didn’t release any information about the visitor.
Colorado has recorded 16 cases of measles so far this year. Four people needed hospital care, but none have died. Most were people who picked up the virus while traveling overseas, or were on a flight with someone who was contagious.
In a typical year, the state has two or fewer cases.
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