Colorado health officials just dropped alarming news late Thursday. Four more people have tested positive for measles, all unvaccinated, all connected to two Broomfield schools. The state is now racing to contain what could become the biggest outbreak in years.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) says the four new cases involve three Adams County residents and one Weld County resident. Every single one has direct ties to Broomfield High School or Broomfield Heights Middle School. This marks the first measles cluster in the Denver metro area since 2019.
Who Got Infected and How It Spread
State epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy confirmed the four patients range in age from school-aged children to adults. None had received the MMR vaccine. At least two are students, and the others are close family members.
This cluster began with an unvaccinated traveler who returned to Colorado while infectious. That person visited the schools, sparking the chain of transmission. Measles spreads through the air and is so contagious that one infected person can infect up to 18 others in an unvaccinated group.
Exposure Locations You Need to Know Right Now
CDPHE has identified multiple public places where people may have been exposed between June 20 and July 3. If you or your kids were at any of these spots during the listed times, watch for symptoms until July 24.
Here are the known exposure sites:
- Broomfield High School (1600 Daphne Street) – June 24–28, various times
- Broomfield Heights Middle School (2005 W 10th Avenue) – June 24–28, various times
- Kohl’s Department Store (4100 Summit Plaza Drive, Broomfield) – June 29, 2–5 p.m.
- King Soopers (4100 Summit Plaza Drive, Broomfield) – June 30, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Community Park in Broomfield – July 1, afternoon hours
Health officials say more locations could be added as contact tracing continues.
Symptoms That Should Send You to the Doctor Immediately
Measles starts like a bad cold but quickly gets serious. Look for these signs:
- High fever (can spike above 104°F)
- Cough, runny nose, red watery eyes
- Tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
- Red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads downward
The rash usually appears 3–5 days after the first symptoms. Complications hit about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people and can include pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death.
Why This Outbreak Feels So Personal for Colorado Families
Many parents in the north metro area are scared right now. Vaccination rates in parts of Adams and Weld counties have dropped below 90%, far under the 95% needed for community protection.
One Broomfield mom told me her unvaccinated kindergartner now has to stay home for 21 days because he was in the same classroom as an infected student. “We thought we were safe,” she said. “This hits way too close to home.”
Doctors say the only real protection is two doses of the MMR vaccine. It is 97% effective and has saved millions of lives worldwide.
Colorado still offers free catch-up vaccines at many clinics. CDPHE has already set up special clinics this weekend in Broomfield and Westminster for anyone who needs shots or proof of immunity.
This outbreak is a stark reminder that measles never really went away. It was just one plane ride away from coming back. With summer travel in full swing and vaccination gaps growing in some communities, public health experts worry more cases are coming.
Protect your family. Check your vaccine records today. If you are not sure, get the shot. It is safe, it works, and it could save your child’s life.
What do you think about the falling vaccination rates in Colorado? Are you checking your family’s records this weekend? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
