Aspen faces same measles risk seen in recent Gunnison case
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
After public health officials confirmed a measles case in Gunnison from an out-of-state resident this week, Pitkin County Public Health warns that Aspen has the same type of tourism-associated risk.
The Gunnison case was confirmed on Tuesday, July 22, by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Gunnison Department of Health and Human Services. The CDPHE confirmed those at Taylor Park Trading Post in Almont, Colorado, and at the Gunnison Valley Health Hospital on specific dates are at risk of exposure.
While Pitkin County Epidemiology Program Administrator Carly Senst confirmed there is no known risk to Pitkin County due to the Gunnison case, she said the case shows how tourism in the Roaring Fork Valley has the potential to spread the disease.
“This specific example is indicative of the type of risk that Pitkin County is most exposed to,” Senst said. “But so far, so good — so far, no measles.”
So far in 2025, the CDPHE has identified 16 measles cases in Colorado residents in six different counties. There have been zero deaths due to any of these cases.
“Among Colorado’s cases, 10 are associated with an out-of-state traveler,” the CDPHE writes, who entered the state while infectious.
Despite still having no positive measles cases, Pitkin County continues to monitor wastewater and recommends all community members are up-to-date on MMR vaccinations. Measles is highly contagious and spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, according to the CDPHE.
“The virus can remain airborne in a room for up to two hours after an infected person has left,” the CDPHE website states.
Senst and the CDPHE confirm the MMR vaccination continues to be “the best” tool for preventing measles.
“Now is the time to think about it — or yesterday,” she said with regard to getting vaccinated.
Pitkin County does have a high vaccination rate against measles, according to her and the CDPHE, where the vaccination rate sits at about 94%.
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