Colorado public health officials say they’ve confirmed a new case of measles \u2014 in a visitor from out-of-state in southern Colorado.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department said Thursday they’re notifying the public of areas for potential measles exposures by that individual who traveled to Huerfano County and visited a local hotel and store.<\/p>\n
The person visited the Ranch House Inn in La Veta Oct. 12-15 and the La Veta Country Store (a Valero franchise) on Oct. 13. Anyone who was in those locations during those dates may have been exposed to measles; they may see symptoms develop at the start of November.<\/p>\n
People who have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings, according to the state health department. Monitoring for symptoms is critical for people who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The agency said, in a press release, there may be additional exposure locations in the area that have not yet been confirmed and locations will be updated if needed.<\/p>\n
Measles is highly contagious and can sometimes lead to serious health problems. But it is a vaccine-preventable disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community, according to the health department. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides strong protection, the agency says.<\/p>\n
Colorado has recorded 31 measles cases in 2025, according to the state<\/a>.\u00a0 Most cases (23) involved people who are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccine statuses. Five cases have been in those 4 and younger, with 20 in adults older than 18. Five people have been hospitalized and no one has died.<\/p>\n Eight counties around the state have recorded cases, with the most being identified in Mesa County, with 11. The region had an outbreak last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n Until this year, Colorado had only one year in which it recorded more than one case since 2014. That was in 2016<\/a> when it recorded 2, according to state health department data.<\/p>\n As of Oct. 14, 2025, a total of 1,596 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States, with cases in most states, according to the CDC<\/a>. In 12 percent of those cases, the person was hospitalized. Three people have died.<\/p>\n