Kristen Kelly, Ouray County public health director, told the board on Sept. 9 that Colorado measles cases rose from 16 in August to 27 in September and that Mesa County has seven cases; county residents with low‑risk exposures were identified but no Ouray County cases were confirmed.
Kelly said 19 of the 27 recent cases statewide were adults whose vaccination status was unknown or unvaccinated and urged residents to locate vaccine records or get MMR shots if unsure.
Kelly announced the county’s new “Wastewater Watch” surveillance program: the City of Ouray began weekly wastewater submission Aug. 18 and Ridgeway and Ouray will provide weekly samples. She said Ridgeway’s wastewater showed two consecutive detections of influenza in late August; CDPHE’s sentinel sites showed no statewide influenza or RSV detections at the time of her report. The county will publish results on its website and social media when CDPHE compiles the local dashboard.
Kelly warned that Colorado has seen a high West Nile virus season: as of her report, 133 Coloradoans had been diagnosed and eight had died statewide, with 63 people reporting neurologic symptoms and 62 requiring hospitalization. Ouray County had no confirmed cases to date. Kelly recommended monitoring mosquito pools and pursuing regional collaboration on larval control to reduce risk.
On vaccines, Kelly said flu vaccines are available by appointment at public health and are updated for the 2025–26 season. She said updated COVID‑19 vaccines were not yet available at county public health because the state is finalizing a public health order and pharmacy regulations; CDPHE had issued a public health order on Sept. 3 and a standing order on Sept. 5 to expand access, but pharmacy coverage and prescription requirements remained in flux. Commissioners and the public raised concerns that some retail pharmacies were requiring prescriptions, creating access barriers; Kelly said CDPHE is working to remove the prescription requirement and the county will update residents when the vaccine becomes available.
Upcoming and outreach items Kelly announced included a free STI/HIV testing clinic in Ridgeway on a Saturday, planned vaccine clinics including a Sept. 20 Saturday event with CDPHE’s mobile vaccine van (which may offer adult vaccines but not COVID as of her report), and a Talk Saves Lives suicide‑prevention presentation (in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month).
Kelly urged residents to bring vaccine records and insurance cards to the upcoming clinics and said River Valley Family Health will partner to ensure care after positive tests at the free clinic.