24-05-2025
DDPHE contacting people who may have been exposed to measles at DIA
DENVER (KDVR) — On Friday, health workers said they are continuing to work to contact people who may have been exposed to measles at the Denver International Airport.
Denver's Department of Health and Education said today it is focusing on the people who were on the flight with the person who had the virus, as well as people who may have stayed at the same hotel.
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People who were at DIA and at an airport hotel on May 13 and May 14 are being told they could have been exposed to the highly contagious measles virus.
A passenger who went through the airport's international gates tested positive for the virus, and because that virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, passengers and hotel guests are being told to watch for symptoms.
'I think the main thing to know about, is that if you are a vaccinated person, then you are safe, by and large. For unvaccinated people, you should be monitoring for symptoms if you're in the vicinity of that exposure during that time period,' HCA Healthone Aurora Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Katie Sprinkel said.
DDPHE said health workers are trying to contact people who were on the flight with the infected passenger.
The same is true for people who stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites Denver International Airport.
'We're working with the hotel, we're able to, um, get in contact with people who were staying at the hotel or who are working at the hotel, at the same time they might have been exposed, and letting them know of the exposure symptoms to look out for,' DDPHE Spokesperson Emily Williams said.
Dr. Sprinkel said the measles vaccine is 97% effective.
The Emergency Department Medical Director was at DIA with her child on one of the same days as the infected traveler.
'It made me think. I do have a young child who's had one vaccine but not two. So it did prompt me to call my pediatrician, and in my case, there's nothing to do, but it is something that kind of raises the hair on my neck and made me think twice to get in touch with our pediatrician,' Dr. Sprinkel said.
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Dr. Sprinkel said anyone who may have any concerns about possible measles symptoms should check with their health care professionals.
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