Second Measles Case in Neighboring County Raises Local Concerns

Montezuma County health officials reported a second measles case this year on December 8, involving a young child who is not of school age and who was not vaccinated, public information officer Vicki Shaffer said. Neither this child nor the earlier case required hospitalization, and Montezuma County Public Health opened an investigation to try to identify how the child was infected.

The first case was confirmed in early November in a school age youngster who also was not vaccinated and who had traveled outside Colorado to an area experiencing an outbreak. The more recent case does not appear linked to travel, a detail that raised concern about undetected transmission locally. “The lack of a clear source of infection suggests that unidentified measles cases may be occurring in or traveling through the Cortez area,” Shaffer said.

Health officials identified a potential exposure window that may be relevant for residents of Dolores County who travel to Cortez. Anyone who was at Cold Stone Creamery, 215 S. Sligo, in Cortez on Wednesday, Nov. 26, between 3:30 and 6 p.m. may have been exposed, and symptoms could develop through Dec. 17. State Department of Public Health and Environment data were cited in related reporting for broader context about case totals and hospitalizations in Colorado during 2025.

The measles virus is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets. Verify your MMR vaccination status and get vaccinated if you are not up to date. Monitor yourself and household members for fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash, and contact your health care provider if symptoms appear. If you suspect measles, limit contact with others and call your provider before visiting so the clinic can take steps to reduce exposure to other patients.

Montezuma County Public Health is continuing its investigation and providing guidance to exposed people. Dolores County residents who visited Cortez during the specified time should watch for symptoms through Dec. 17 and follow instructions from public health officials and health care providers to protect themselves and the community.