Latest news with #ElPasoCountyPublicHealth
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
First 2025 measles cases reported in El Paso County
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH) have confirmed two measles cases in El Paso County. Two unvaccinated adults have been confirmed to have measles. The adults are unrelated, but were at Denver International Airport around the same time on Wednesday, May 14. Another individual from Arapahoe County who was a passenger on a Turkish Airlines flight that arrived in Denver on May 13 has also been confirmed positive for measles. The two unvaccinated adults from El Paso and the vaccinated adult from Arapahoe County are all recovering at home. The CDPHE said that based on information, anyone who was in the following locations during the dates and times may have been exposed to measles: Location Date/Time When symptoms may develop Love's Travel Stop/Carl's Jr. 748 Road, Grand Junction Tuesday, May 276 – 10 p.m. Through June 17 Maverick Gas Station 2588 Airport Road, Colorado Springs Wednesday, May 289-11:30 a.m. Through June 18 King Soopers1750 W. Uintah Street, Colorado Springs Saturday, May 318:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Through June 21 Those who believe they have been exposed to measles should monitor symptoms for 21 days after exposure and consider avoiding public gatherings or high-risk settings. 'Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Measles is highly contagious and can sometimes lead to serious health problems, but it is a vaccine-preventable disease,' the CDPHE wrote. 'Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides strong protection.' Monitoring is important, especially for people who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, which, if given within 72 hours of infection, can prevent infection. Colorado's total number of cases is up to six. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
More than 1,000 pounds of prescription drugs and opioids collected on Drug Take Back Day in El Paso County
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo) — Within the neighborhood parks and typical Saturday activities, there were stands across Southern Colorado set up to collect prescription pills and opioids to prevent drug overdoses and accidental poisoning. 'It gives residents an opportunity to go through their unused or expired prescription drugs they may have accumulated in their homes over the years,' said Jennifer Lang from El Paso County Public Health. Pills and bottles were dropped off, filling several kitchen-sized trash bags to the brim. The collection site near the Widefield Parks and Rec Center is a small part of a nationwide event where cities across the country set up drop-off points for old and expired prescription pills and opioids. The Widefield location offered medicine cases, Narcan, and other gifts in a bag in exchange for old pills. Several other drop-off locations across El Paso County also saw trash bags fill up. In total, the Colorado Springs Police Department tells FOX21 that 1,373 pounds of prescription drugs and opioids were collected during April's take-back event. Lang says the event has been successful for the past three years. 'We've been doing our partnering with our local law enforcement, since then (2022), the Fountain and Widefield area has collected nearly 1,000 pounds of unused or expired medications,' Lang said. While there are two set drug takeback events each year, Lang encourages every day to be a takeback day where people are getting rid of their old and expired prescription drugs properly. To find a location to properly drop off unwanted opioids or prescription drugs, click here. As for the drug collection in the Whitefield and Fountain, the exact number, according to El Paso County Public Health, is 968.75 pounds collected from the last six drug takeback events at just the Widefield Parks and Rec Center and the Fountain Library. These efforts come as the most recent data shows 534 people between the ages of 15-24 visited the emergency room because of an overdose in 2023, according to El Paso County Public Health. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
