A Pueblo resident who recently traveled to Mexico is now infected with Colorado’s first confirmed case of measles since 2023, public health officials announced Monday.
The person, who has not been publicly identified, recently visited an area in Mexico with an ongoing measles outbreak and was not vaccinated, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a news release.
People who went to the Southwest Deli and Cafe in south Pueblo between March 17 and 21 and the Southern Colorado Clinic in Pueblo West from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on March 22 may have been exposed to measles, state officials said.
Anyone who was potentially exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days and consider avoiding public gatherings.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, tiny white spots inside the mouth and a rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis.
Anyone who was exposed and starts to develop symptoms should immediately call their doctor, an urgent care center or emergency department.
Measles cases in the United States this year already have surpassed 2024 numbers, with outbreaks reported in at least five states. A child in Texas died from measles in February, marking the first pediatric death since 2003. The last adult death from measles in the U.S. was in 2015.
The outbreak in Texas has grown to 400 cases. Other states with outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.
The new outbreaks confirm health experts’ fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread could stretch on for a year. The World Health Organization said this week cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.
Measles is both extremely contagious and highly preventable with a vaccine, Colorado state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said in a statement.
“The MMR vaccine provides excellent protection and helps prevent outbreaks like the one we are seeing globally,” she said. “We urge Coloradans to review their vaccination status and take steps to protect themselves, their families and their communities.”
The vaccine may also prevent infection if given within 72 hours of being exposed, according to state officials.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.
