Measles Cases Continue to Grow as Colorado Reports its First Case

On Monday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment have confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated adult residing in Pueblo, Colorado. This marks Colorado’s first measle case of the year, and the 20^th state to report cases. The Colorado individual recently traveled to an area of Mexico experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak.

On Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provided updated numbers of its ongoing outbreak of measles predominately in West Texas, which has expanded to 19 counties, from 14 counties last week. The virus is now present in Central and East Texas counties. As of April, DSHS confirmed at least 422 cases have been identified in the Texas outbreak. Since late January, 42 patients have now required hospitalization. One unvaccinated school-aged child with no underlying conditions died on Feb. 26 in Texas. Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown.

Additionally, on Tuesday, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reported the state’s case count for measles has risen to 48. While most cases remain in Lea County, the outbreak spread to Eddy County, which has reported two cases. As of April 1, two Lea County residents have required hospitalization. NMDOH recorded the death of one unvaccinated Lea County resident on March 6, the second in the outbreak.

On Tuesday, measles cases also grew in Oklahoma to 10, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). All cases are linked through exposures to household or extended family; and initial cases reported exposure to the measles outbreak in West Texas and New Mexico, OSDH said.

As of March 26, Kansas Department of Health and Environment also has confirmed 23 measles cases in six counties. Kansas reported its first measles case on March 13.

As of March 27, a total of 483 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the United States this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC is aware of probable measles cases still being reported, and the case count is higher.) This year’s cases are well above last year’s total of 285 measles cases.