Big Dollars Spent On Two Colorado Measles Cases

COLORADO -- Two recent measles cases in Colorado cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. According to a report by Forbes Magazine, the government spent $68,192 on a case in July 2016 and a case in January 2017.

"The cost included personnel and supply costs in Colorado’s Tri-County Health Department for Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties," the magazine reported.

Citing a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemic Intelligence Service, the authors wrote that “Even a single case of measles can cause substantial economic and personnel burden to public health systems," according to Forbes. “This burden can be decreased by improving measles- mumps-rubella vaccination rates, increasing timely reporting of suspected or confirmed measles cases, and optimizing coordinated public health response.”

The two Colorado cases were unrelated. The first case involved an unvaccinated 14-month-old boy who got was exposed to the disease while in India.

"During the time he was infectious, from July 8-16, 2016, an total of 283 people were exposed to his infection at eight locations, including three health care facilities, an apartment building and a children’s math and reading center," the magazine wrote. "The total cost of the public health response was $49,769."

The second case involved a 33-year-old man who was exposed while in Thailand, Forbes reported.

"While infectious, he visited 17 businesses and two health care facilities, exposing 232 people. Again, no additional infections occurred, but the public health response totaled $18,423," the magazine wrote.

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