Mesa County Public Health has officially scaled back its measles response after 37 days of active operations, following the successful containment of seven confirmed cases in the community.

No new cases have been reported in recent weeks, and the risk to the public remains low. The agency’s approach offers a clear example of large-scale incident management, with lessons that extend beyond public health.

“Preparedness and public cooperation were both key in our team’s quick and effective response. Thankfully, we also have high vaccination coverage in our community, which also played a role in limiting measles transmission,” said Erin Minnerath, deputy director at Mesa County Public Health. “This is a clear example of how public health measures protect our community.”

The Emergency Operations Center was activated for more than five weeks, requiring more than 500 hours of command operations.

At the peak of the response, Mesa County Public Health fielded nearly 100 inquiries a day and dedicated 27 staff members to the effort. Many were cross-trained into new duties, reflecting a level of workforce flexibility that is increasingly relevant for businesses facing adversity.

Our response relied heavily on partnerships. Mesa County Public Health worked closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to add technical support during peak periods. We worked closely with local medical providers, offering weekly briefings for situational awareness and testing guidance. We also supported large organizations such as School District 51 and Colorado Mesa University to help create accurate information for their students, staff and families.

Communication throughout the measles response was crucial, which included updates for the community and medical providers. Our team conducted contact tracing with more than 300 contacts who may have been exposed, and more than 50 contacts were actively monitored during this response.

Though the emergency phase is over, Mesa County Public Health will continue monitoring for new cases and stresses the importance of vaccination. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles infection. The MMR is available in our Public Health Clinic, primary care clinics and pharmacies.

“The work doesn’t stop here. Our team continues to monitor and respond to infectious disease in our community. The low risk to the public is a testament to the power of vaccines and the importance of public health systems working quickly to contain disease,” Minnerath said.

For Mesa County’s business community, the response illustrates the value of preparation, flexible staffing and strong partnerships, principles that apply to organizations navigating their own operational challenges.