Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infectious Disease Surveillance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pitkin County epidemiology update: summer rise in COVID indicators, measles watch and rising TB cases
Summary
County public‑health staff reported midsummer increases in COVID indicators from wastewater and hospital metrics, warned that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices did not finalize COVID‑vaccine guidance in June, and said Colorado is seeing an uptick in measles and tuberculosis activity.
Pitkin County public‑health staff gave an epidemiology briefing July 17 that said local and statewide indicators show a routine summer increase in COVID‑19 activity, an ongoing national measles uptick and rising tuberculosis activity in Colorado.
A county public‑health staff member summarized COVID trends as “nothing shocking” but noted wastewater surveillance and hospital metrics indicate higher activity than preceding weeks. Staff said genomic surveillance remains limited, making it difficult to attribute symptoms to specific variants. The presenter noted the COVID variant NB.1.8.1 is increasing rapidly but that “it is not charging ahead in severity.” Public‑health staff reiterated standard precautions for people at higher risk: vaccination when eligible, hand hygiene, staying home when ill and masking on crowded transit.
On federal vaccine policy, staff told the board the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was replaced and reconstituted in June. The board heard that ACIP did not vote on COVID‑19 vaccine recommendations at its June meeting — a step that normally precedes manufacturer updates, insurer coverage decisions and provider pre‑ordering — and that the lack of an ACIP recommendation creates uncertainty about vaccine availability and prioritization for the coming respiratory season.
Staff also briefed members on the national measles situation. Colorado’s health department had signaled an elevated period of measles transmission associated with an outbreak in West Texas; staff said the U.S. case count has exceeded a 30‑year high and that Colorado is monitoring wastewater and laboratory signals. Local partners have prepared a measles response plan to speed notification, outreach and vaccination if a case is detected.
Tuberculosis activity also drew attention. County staff described a statewide rise in latent TB infection and active TB disease after a decade of decline; Colorado data showed roughly a 30 percent increase in active cases compared with prior trends. Staff emphasized the difference between latent infection (not contagious, not reportable in many settings) and active disease (contagious; requires investigation and treatment) and encouraged clinicians to consider latent‑TB treatment as a preventive measure in high‑risk patients.
Board members urged clear public messaging ahead of the fall respiratory season and suggested the health department consider early communications about vaccine availability once federal guidance is finalized. Staff said they will continue to monitor wastewater, hospital metrics and laboratory reporting and will update the board as new federal or state guidance emerges.
