Colorado confirms 14 cases of measles across the state
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed 14 cases of measles across the state. The majority of those are linked to an out-of-state traveler who flew while infectious and arrived at Denver International Airport last month.
The latest case is linked to the out-of-state traveler who was exposed at the airport on May 13. That person is described as an unvaccinated adult from Arapahoe County.
Illustration of the measles morbillivirus.
RUSLANAS BARANAUSKAS/SCIENCE PHO
The thirteenth case was reported to the CDPHE on June 9 as a child under the age of 5 from El Paso County and had traveled to Canada with family.
The CDPHE said 2025 marks the highest increase and confirmation of reported measles cases in Colorado since 2014.
Officials said that the best protection is the measles, mumps, and rubella or MMR vaccine. They added that, in rare cases, people who have been vaccinated can still contract the measles, but their symptoms are milder and they are less likely to spread it to others. Anyone experiencing symptoms is encouraged to call their healthcare provider or hospital before visiting to avoid exposing others.
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Hamilton Spectator
6 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Takeaways from interviews with families forever changed by diseases that vaccines can prevent
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — In the time before widespread vaccination, devastating infectious diseases ran rampant in America, killing millions of children and leaving others with lifelong health problems. Over the next century, vaccines virtually wiped out long-feared scourges like polio and measles and drastically reduced the toll of many others. Today, however, some preventable, contagious diseases are making a comeback as vaccine hesitancy pushes immunization rates down. And well-established vaccines are facing suspicion even from public officials, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist , running the federal health department. 'This concern, this hesitancy, these questions about vaccines are a consequence of the great success of the vaccines – because they eliminated the diseases,' said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'If you're not familiar with the disease, you don't respect or even fear it. And therefore you don't value the vaccine.' Anti-vaccine activists even portray the shots as a threat, focusing on the rare risk of side effects while ignoring the far larger risks posed by the diseases themselves — and years of real-world data that experts say proves the vaccines are safe. Some Americans know the reality of vaccine-preventable diseases all too well. Here are takeaways from interviews with a few of them by The Associated Press. Getting a disease while pregnant can change two lives. Janith Farnham has helped shepherd her daughter Jacque through life for decades. Jacque, 60, was born with congenital rubella syndrome, which resulted in hearing, eye and heart problems at birth. There was no vaccine against rubella back then, and Janith contracted it in early pregnancy. Though Janith, 80, did all she could to help Jacque thrive, the condition took its toll. Jacque eventually developed diabetes, glaucoma, autistic behaviors and arthritis. Today, Jacque lives in an adult residential home and gets together with Janith four or five days a week. Janith marvels at Jacque's sense of humor and affectionate nature despite all she's endured. Jacque is generous with kisses and often signs 'double I love yous,' even to new people she meets. Given what her family has been through, Janith finds it 'more than frustrating' when people choose not to get children the MMR shot against measles, mumps and rubella. 'I know what can happen,' she said. 'I just don't want anybody else to go through this.' Delaying a vaccine can be deadly. More than half a century has passed, but Patricia Tobin still vividly recalls seeing her little sister Karen unconscious on the bathroom floor. It was 1970, Karen was 6, and she had measles. The vaccine against it wasn't required for school in Miami where they lived. Though Karen's doctor discussed immunizing the first grader, their mother didn't share his sense of urgency. 'It's not that she was against it,' Tobin said. 'She just thought there was time.' Then came a measles outbreak. After she collapsed in the bathroom, Karen never regained consciousness. She died of encephalitis. 'We never did get to speak to her again,' Tobin said. Today, all states require that children get certain vaccines to attend school. But a growing number of people are making use of exemptions. Vanderbilt's Schaffner said fading memories of measles outbreaks were exacerbated by a fraudulent, retracted study claiming a link between the MMR shot and autism. The result? Most states are below the 95% vaccination threshold for kindergartners — the level needed to protect communities against measles outbreaks. Preventable diseases can have long-term effects. One of Lora Duguay's earliest memories is lying in a hospital isolation ward with her feverish, paralyzed body packed in ice. She was three years old. It was 1959 and Duguay, of Clearwater, Florida, had polio. It was one of the most feared diseases in the U.S., experts say, causing some terrified parents to keep children inside and avoid crowds during epidemics. Given polio's visibility, the vaccine against it was widely and enthusiastically welcomed. Given polio's visibility, the vaccine against it was widely and enthusiastically welcomed. But the early vaccine that Duguay got was only about 80% to 90% effective. Not enough people were vaccinated or protected yet to stop the virus from spreading. Though treatment helped her walk again, she eventually developed post-polio syndrome, a neuromuscular disorder that worsens over time. She now gets around in a wheelchair. The disease that changed her life twice is no longer a problem in the U.S. So many children get the vaccine — which is far more effective than earlier versions — that it doesn't just protect individuals but it prevents occasional cases that arrive in the U.S. from spreading further and protects the vulnerable. When people aren't vaccinated, the vulnerable remain at risk. Every night, Katie Van Tornhout rubs a plaster cast of a tiny foot, a vestige of the daughter she lost to whooping cough at just 37 days old. Callie Grace was born on Christmas Eve 2009. When she turned a month old, she began having symptoms of pertussis, or whooping cough. She was too young for the Tdap vaccine against it and was exposed to someone who hadn't gotten their booster shot. At the hospital, Van Tornhout recalled, the medical staff frantically tried to save her, but 'within minutes, she was gone.' Today, Callie remains part of her family's life, and Van Tornhout shares the story with others as she advocates for vaccination. 'It's up to us as adults to protect our children – like, that's what a parent's job is,' Van Tornhout said. 'I watched my daughter die from something that was preventable … You don't want to walk in my shoes.' ____ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
San Francisco Chronicle
8 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Takeaways from interviews with families forever changed by diseases that vaccines can prevent
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — In the time before widespread vaccination, devastating infectious diseases ran rampant in America, killing millions of children and leaving others with lifelong health problems. Over the next century, vaccines virtually wiped out long-feared scourges like polio and measles and drastically reduced the toll of many others. Today, however, some preventable, contagious diseases are making a comeback as vaccine hesitancy pushes immunization rates down. And well-established vaccines are facing suspicion even from public officials, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, running the federal health department. 'This concern, this hesitancy, these questions about vaccines are a consequence of the great success of the vaccines – because they eliminated the diseases,' said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'If you're not familiar with the disease, you don't respect or even fear it. And therefore you don't value the vaccine.' Anti-vaccine activists even portray the shots as a threat, focusing on the rare risk of side effects while ignoring the far larger risks posed by the diseases themselves — and years of real-world data that experts say proves the vaccines are safe. Some Americans know the reality of vaccine-preventable diseases all too well. Here are takeaways from interviews with a few of them by The Associated Press. Getting a disease while pregnant can change two lives. Janith Farnham has helped shepherd her daughter Jacque through life for decades. Jacque, 60, was born with congenital rubella syndrome, which resulted in hearing, eye and heart problems at birth. There was no vaccine against rubella back then, and Janith contracted it in early pregnancy. Though Janith, 80, did all she could to help Jacque thrive, the condition took its toll. Jacque eventually developed diabetes, glaucoma, autistic behaviors and arthritis. Today, Jacque lives in an adult residential home and gets together with Janith four or five days a week. Janith marvels at Jacque's sense of humor and affectionate nature despite all she's endured. Jacque is generous with kisses and often signs 'double I love yous,' even to new people she meets. Given what her family has been through, Janith finds it 'more than frustrating' when people choose not to get children the MMR shot against measles, mumps and rubella. 'I know what can happen,' she said. 'I just don't want anybody else to go through this.' Delaying a vaccine can be deadly. More than half a century has passed, but Patricia Tobin still vividly recalls seeing her little sister Karen unconscious on the bathroom floor. It was 1970, Karen was 6, and she had measles. The vaccine against it wasn't required for school in Miami where they lived. Though Karen's doctor discussed immunizing the first grader, their mother didn't share his sense of urgency. 'It's not that she was against it,' Tobin said. 'She just thought there was time.' Then came a measles outbreak. After she collapsed in the bathroom, Karen never regained consciousness. She died of encephalitis. 'We never did get to speak to her again,' Tobin said. Today, all states require that children get certain vaccines to attend school. But a growing number of people are making use of exemptions. Vanderbilt's Schaffner said fading memories of measles outbreaks were exacerbated by a fraudulent, retracted study claiming a link between the MMR shot and autism. The result? Most states are below the 95% vaccination threshold for kindergartners — the level needed to protect communities against measles outbreaks. Preventable diseases can have long-term effects. One of Lora Duguay's earliest memories is lying in a hospital isolation ward with her feverish, paralyzed body packed in ice. She was three years old. It was 1959 and Duguay, of Clearwater, Florida, had polio. It was one of the most feared diseases in the U.S., experts say, causing some terrified parents to keep children inside and avoid crowds during epidemics. Given polio's visibility, the vaccine against it was widely and enthusiastically welcomed. Given polio's visibility, the vaccine against it was widely and enthusiastically welcomed. But the early vaccine that Duguay got was only about 80% to 90% effective. Not enough people were vaccinated or protected yet to stop the virus from spreading. Though treatment helped her walk again, she eventually developed post-polio syndrome, a neuromuscular disorder that worsens over time. She now gets around in a wheelchair. The disease that changed her life twice is no longer a problem in the U.S. So many children get the vaccine — which is far more effective than earlier versions — that it doesn't just protect individuals but it prevents occasional cases that arrive in the U.S. from spreading further and protects the vulnerable. When people aren't vaccinated, the vulnerable remain at risk. Every night, Katie Van Tornhout rubs a plaster cast of a tiny foot, a vestige of the daughter she lost to whooping cough at just 37 days old. Callie Grace was born on Christmas Eve 2009. When she turned a month old, she began having symptoms of pertussis, or whooping cough. She was too young for the Tdap vaccine against it and was exposed to someone who hadn't gotten their booster shot. At the hospital, Van Tornhout recalled, the medical staff frantically tried to save her, but 'within minutes, she was gone.' Today, Callie remains part of her family's life, and Van Tornhout shares the story with others as she advocates for vaccination. 'It's up to us as adults to protect our children – like, that's what a parent's job is,' Van Tornhout said. 'I watched my daughter die from something that was preventable … You don't want to walk in my shoes.' ____
National Geographic
2 days ago
- National Geographic
What your noisy knees are trying to tell you
Joint sounds like cracking and popping are often harmless—but when paired with pain or stiffness, they may signal early arthritis. Experts say age isn't the only factor—diet, inflammation, and movement play a big role in how your joints hold up over time. Illustration by Ruslanas Baranauskas, Science Photo Library From gas bubbles to worn cartilage, here's what makes your joints pop—and how to know if it's something to worry about. Snap. Crackle. Pop. If your knees sound like a bowl of cereal every time you stand, you're not alone. 'Those cracking or popping sounds people hear are really common. We call it 'crepitus' in the medical world and, most of the time, it's just a normal part of joint mechanics,' says Mitchell McDowell, an orthopedic surgeon, osteopathic physician, and president of M Bone and Joint. 'It could be tiny gas bubbles in the joint fluid popping, or even tendons or ligaments shifting a bit as you move.' However, when the noise accompanies pain or stiffness, it may signal something more serious. Starting as early as your thirties, the smooth, springy padding inside your joints—called cartilage—can begin to wear down. That doesn't mean arthritis is inevitable, but without that shock-absorbing layer inside your joints, your bones may start to grind instead of glide—leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. And while age plays a role, emerging research suggests that lifestyle, diet, and inflammation may also play a part. Here's what researchers are learning about why joints get creaky—and what you can do now to stay limber for life. Is your stiffness a sign of aging? Joint wear tends to become more noticeable in your 40s and 50s, says Barry L. Bently, an associate professor in bioengineering at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Roughly 30 percent of Americans between 45 and 64—and over 50 percent of those 65 and older—have arthritis, according to the CDC. But it's not as simple as ticking off birthdays. What you put in your body can have a big impact on what you keep in your head. 'Chronological age, or the number of years since birth, is only loosely correlated with biological age and the accumulation of physiological damage,' Bentley explains. 'It is far from straightforward to define what should be considered 'normal' aging.' Genetics, past injuries, and lifestyle habits all influence when joint problems show up—and how severe they become. (The overlooked key to fitness? Strengthening your joints and tendons.) So, how can you tell the difference between natural stiffness and something more serious? 'Most of us feel a bit stiff now and then, especially after sitting too long or waking up in the morning, and that kind of stiffness usually eases up once you get moving,' says McDowell. 'But with early arthritis, the stiffness tends to hang around longer, sometimes even getting worse with activity.' A 2021 study in Rheumatology found that morning stiffness lasting an hour or more is a key warning sign of arthritis. If that stiffness is accompanied by swelling, pain, or a nagging ache that doesn't go away, 'it's smart to get it looked at early,' says McDowell. 'It's always easier to manage arthritis in the beginning stages.' Why do your joints wear down over time? 'For significant joint wear that leads to osteoarthritis, there have been some studies showing that chronological age only accounts for about half the risk, with the other half being attributable to modifiable environmental and lifestyle factors,' says Bentley. That includes physical stress. 'There is ample evidence that activities that place repetitive or excessive loads on the joints can lead to cartilage wear and bone changes,' says Bentley. High-impact activities, such as running on hard surfaces, manual labor, or heavy lifting, can overburden joints, especially if you're not recovering sufficiently. (Here's why double-jointed people are more likely to have health problems.) But it's not just wear and tear. Low-grade, chronic inflammation plays a major role in joint aging. 'Consuming a diet high in processed foods, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking, can play a significant role in accelerating biological aging, including exacerbating joint damage,' explains Bentley. 'Those behaviors promote systemic inflammation, which impairs cartilage repair mechanisms and accelerates tissue degradation.' How to protect your joints in your 40s and beyond The good news? You can take action to protect your joints—even if they're already a little creaky. 'I see a lot of patients who worry it's 'too late' to do something about their joints, but that's just not true,' McDowell. 'Even in your 40s or 50s, small changes can make a big difference.' Those changes can include maintaining a healthy weight to take pressure off your joints or eating a nutrient-rich diet that contains omega-3 fatty acids—found in fatty fish like salmon—which have anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E help protect cartilage from oxidative damage, while calcium and vitamin D support both bones and cartilage. In addition, McDowell recommends cutting back on nicotine, which limits blood flow to the joints, and excessive alcohol consumption, which depletes the body of nutrients. (This is why mobility should be a key part of your fitness routine.) Consistent, low-impact activities like walking, swimming, tai chi, or cycling are gentle on your joints while helping improve strength and flexibility. Strength training is also key, says McDowell. Stronger muscles stabilize the joints and act as shock absorbers, especially in key areas such as the hips and knees. A 2021 study in Frontiers in Physiology found that regular exercise can slow cartilage degeneration, reduce inflammation, and prevent bone loss in people with osteoarthritis. Another 2019 study in Arthritis & Rheumatology suggests it may even reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. 'Think of the joints like tires on a car,' says McDowell. 'If you drive 300 miles a day, especially if you're carrying some extra cargo, the tires wear out quickly. It's even worse if there was trauma or the alignment is off.' He continues, 'On the other hand, if you park the car in the garage, you lose air pressure/ belts bend and the engine stops working. It's all about balance.'
