Rio Blanco public health reviews measles risks, urges MMR vaccination

Mikaela Bridal of Rio Blanco County Public Health presented an education briefing on measles to the Board of County Commissioners on April 15, describing the disease, its complications, and local vaccination rates.

Bridal said measles is "a vaccine preventable viral infection. It's highly contagious and it's an airborne disease," and noted that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best prevention. She outlined typical symptoms — high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, small white spots inside the cheeks and a maculopapular rash — and described the disease's typical incubation and contagious periods.

Bridal gave local vaccination data for schools in the county, noting particularly high coverage: "Parkview Elementary School has a 99 percent vaccination rate. Rangely High School has a 98.9 percent vaccination rate. Meeker Elementary School has a 99 percent. Rowan Middle School, a hundred percent and Meeker High School, a hundred percent." She said local school nurses had helped achieve those rates.

Bridal reviewed complications and treatment: pneumonia is the most common cause of death associated with measles; other complications include blindness, encephalitis and severe dehydration. She recommended vitamin A supplementation for children with measles and said respiratory complications require appropriate antibiotics. On testing she described available specimen types and processes: nasopharyngeal or oral swabs sent to the state laboratory. "We can't test for immunity in the office — that's a titer — but we can test for active disease," she said.

Bridal summarized adult vaccination guidance and recent Colorado cases: people born before 1957 generally have presumed immunity; some adults who lack laboratory evidence of immunity or were vaccinated before earlier schedules may need additional doses. She told the commissioners Rio Blanco County had no measles cases and that Colorado had three unrelated cases at the time (reported in Pueblo, Denver and Archuleta counties). Bridal cautioned against alarm but encouraged residents without evidence of immunity to seek vaccination through the county's vaccine programs.

County officials asked about testing and outbreak supplies; Bridal said the state has test kits and surge vaccine supplies. She also addressed masking and fit-testing, noting N95 respirators require fit testing to provide intended protection and that, at the time of the meeting, masks were not being mandated locally. Commissioners thanked Bridal for the briefing.

Why this matters: measles is highly contagious and complications can be severe; the briefing outlined the county’s preventive options and local vaccine coverage, and provides residents with contact points for appointments and testing.