Pitkin County Public Health briefed the board on respiratory illness surveillance and vaccination guidance as the 2025‑26 season begins.

Staff reported that local influenza‑like illness activity remains low and RSV is not circulating appreciably, but that avian H5N1 detections have risen in birds and agricultural settings statewide. "There has been a dramatic increase in detections at, Marshall poultry and dairy farms as well as wild bird detections in the state of Colorado," staff said; no human cases were reported in the county at the time of the update.

Staff discussed seasonal vaccine guidance. They said influenza and routine vaccinations are widely available through physicians, pharmacies and community health centers, and advised residents to seek vaccination according to current recommendations. On COVID‑19, staff noted recent federal clarifications and that Colorado public‑health orders permit providers to offer updated vaccines; staff encouraged vaccination and clarified that updated COVID vaccines are intended to address currently circulating variants.

Measles remains a national concern. Staff noted 1,544 cases nationally (as reported in the meeting) and 27 cases in Colorado; the majority of U.S. cases were in unvaccinated people. Staff highlighted wastewater surveillance as a useful local tool, noting it can detect low levels of measles virus and that Pitkin County’s wastewater monitoring provides weekly samples to help identify community signals.

Ending: Staff will continue routine surveillance, encourage vaccination and use wastewater and clinical reporting to monitor measles, influenza, RSV and COVID‑19 through the winter season.