DENVER — There are growing concerns about measles as new infections pop up across the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 102 people in 14 state were reported to have measles in January. Most of the cases come from an ongoing multistate outbreak linked to Disneyland.
The Colorado Health Department is investigating a possible case of measles in north Denver. A teenager walked into a Walgreens store at 84th and Pecos with measles-like symptoms during the weekend. State health experts say it probably is not measles.
State health officials have looked into roughly two dozen possible cases in recent weeks. There has been one confirmed case in Colorado which is linked to the outbreak from at California’s Disneyland in late December.
Measles is very contagious. Dr. Lisa Miller with the Colorado Health Department says while any outbreak is concerning, most people are not at risk.
Only babies who are too young to be vaccinated and those who have never been vaccinated can get measles.
Measles symptoms
Measles begins with fever usually greater than 100F, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. The rash is characteristically red with bumps and flat spots, and begins on the face along the hairline and behind the ears.
Over the next three days the rash becomes generalized and is usually gone after six days. The incubation period (exposure to rash onset) for measles ranges from 7 to 21 days.