BROOMFIELD, Colo. — State health officials said Monday a second student at Broomfield High has tested positive for measles, and announced that exposures to the highly contagious virus have expanded to include a Chick-fil-A and a Chipotle restaurant in other parts of the metro.
The student is the first case for Adams County and the third for the state so far this year, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). All three cases have been in people not vaccinated against the virus.
The student could have exposed people at Broomfield High between Tuesday, Feb. 24 and Friday, Feb. 27, from about 8 a.m. to about 6 p.m. each of those days, according to a spokesperson from the state health department.
The student could also have exposed people at a Chick-fil-A located at 4260 W. 121st Ave. in Broomfield on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at a Chipotle restaurant in Westminster, located at 5160 W. 120th Ave., on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Health News
Measles case confirmed in Broomfield County, per CDPHE
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air and can remain airborne for up to two hours — meaning the individual may have exposed hundreds of people while visiting all three locations long after they were gone.
School immunization data from the CDPHE shows the Boulder Valley School District, which Broomfield High School is under, has a 95.7% vaccination rate for the MMR vaccine — above the 95% herd immunity threshold needed to prevent a rise in cases in the community.
Though the vaccine has a 97% efficacy rate against infection, about 3 in every 100 people can still get infected if exposed to the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Monday, 26 Broomfield High School students were still forbidden from attending school — down from an initial 42 on Friday — after school district officials and public health authorities worked to verify each student's vaccination status.
In a letter to parents Monday night, Principal Ginger Ramsey warned that additional measles cases at the school could prolong the quarantine period for unvaccinated or immunocompromised students, and encouraged parents to get their children vaccinated with the MMR vaccine as doing so, "may reduce the amount of time you or your student will be excluded from school and other activities."
Denver7 reached out to the Boulder Valley School District to ask what kind of academic support children who cannot attend class will receive. In a statement, a BVSD spokesman said the school would reach out to parents with those details by mid-week.
We then asked if Broomfield High was considering canceling any upcoming spring sports or other school events at the school or with rival campuses given Broomfield High's two measles cases.
"We are following the lead of our public health agencies and they have been very careful regarding quarantine and exclusion. To date, they have not suggested the cancellation or modification of any events," said BSVD spokesman Randy Barber. "We’ve had to reschedule a few games because of the impact of quarantines or exclusions, but to my knowledge no schools have canceled games with Broomfield due to the cases."
What to do if you believe you were exposed
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed — especially those who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine — should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and avoid public gatherings or high-risk settings, health officials said in a news release.
State health officials said those who were potentially exposed in this latest case may develop symptoms through March 18, 19 and 20.
Symptoms to watch out for include anything from a fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes that develop into a rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body about three to five days after symptoms first start. A person with measles is contagious four days before and four days after the rash appears.
- Denver7 took an in-depth look at measles vaccine hesitancy through the eyes of infection experts, a holistic pediatrician, and the psychology behind the politics of it all. You can watch that report in the video player below:
While most people recover within two or three weeks after contracting the virus, unvaccinated people run the risk of complications from the disease, including ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, immune amnesia, brain damage and ultimately, death.
Measles only spreads from people who show symptoms; it does not spread from people who aren’t feeling sick, state health officials said.
Unvaccinated people exposed to the virus can get the MMR vaccine 72 hours after exposure (but before symptoms are present) to prevent an infection, according to health officials. Immunoglobulin (IG), if administered within six days of exposure, may also be used in some circumstances, they added.
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“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community,” the CDPHE spokesperson said.
People who got vaccinated against measles before 1968 should talk to their health care provider about possibly getting a booster as the vaccine used before that year wasn't as effective.
As of Monday, Colorado has reported cases of the virus in Adams, Arapahoe and Broomfield counties. Across the country, the number of confirmed measles infections has already topped 1,000.
Denver7's Sophia Villalba contributed to this report.
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