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Ouray County public health warns of regional measles case, recognizes local wastewater partners
Summary
Public Health Director Kristen updated the board on a new measles case in nearby Montezuma County, encouraged vaccinations, and accepted state proclamations recognizing Ridgeway and Ouray wastewater treatment facilities' contributions to statewide wastewater surveillance and disease monitoring.
Ouray County Public Health Director Kristen told the Board on Dec. 9 that Colorado recorded a new measles case in Montezuma County — an unvaccinated child with no known travel outside the state — and urged vigilance, testing and vaccinations. "The child is unvaccinated," she said, and officials are monitoring for potential additional, unidentified cases.
Kristen also briefed commissioners on respiratory-virus trends, saying influenza hospitalizations were rising statewide and that wastewater surveillance showed low detectable levels in Ouray and Ridgeway for the latest sample. "It's never too late to get your COVID or flu or RSV shot," she said, encouraging residents to use local public-health clinics.
The board formally adopted state proclamations recognizing the Town of Ridgeway and City of Ouray wastewater treatment facilities for their voluntary contributions to Colorado’s wastewater surveillance system; both proclamations passed unanimously. Preston, a wastewater program participant on the call, thanked the board for the recognition.
Kristen outlined other public-health items in the packet: an updated WIC intergovernmental agreement that shares an educator between Ouray and San Miguel counties; an amendment to the public-health emergency-preparedness grant that restores an additional 25% of federal funding for a total of $38,412; a free community health clinic on Dec. 13; and planned youth and family programs (WIC nutrition changes, birth-control programming and a Wellness Palooza in January). The board voted to approve the WIC IGA and the preparedness-grant amendment unanimously.
Kristen asked commissioners to continue supporting local outreach and vaccination availability, noting that Ouray County continues to serve as a regional safety net for families who cannot find vaccine access elsewhere.
The proclamations and grant approvals are administrative actions that recognize local wastewater partners and add modest funding to emergency-preparedness work. The board asked staff to continue outreach about vaccines and forthcoming clinic dates.
