Turkish Airlines passenger from Denver is 7th measles case tied to DIA outbreak

Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post on Jun 4, 2025

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DENVER — A Denver resident is the seventh Coloradan to get measles from a passenger on a Turkish Airlines flight last month — and they may have passed the highly contagious virus on to people at three stores along the Front Range.

The new patient is among four people who flew on Turkish Airlines flight 201, which landed at Denver International Airport on May 13, who have since tested positive for measles.

Three additional people who passed through DIA at the same time as the initially infected person — an out-of-state traveler — or shortly thereafter have also contracted the disease.

The measles virus can linger in the air for about two hours.

The new Denver patient was a vaccinated adult who is recovering at home, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. Two doses of the measles vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing infection.

The public should watch for measles symptoms if they visited the following locations:

—Trader Joe’s, 661 Logan St., Denver, between 9:30 and 11:40 a.m. May 29. Symptoms could appear through June 19.

—King Soopers, 1520 Main St., Windsor, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Friday. Symptoms could appear through June 20.

—Target, 4301 E. Virginia Ave., Glendale, between 9:20 and 11:50 p.m. Monday. Symptoms could appear through June 23.

An El Paso County resident who visited the airport also tested positive in the last week. That person visited Single Barrel Bar and Grill, 5885 Stetson Hills Blvd. in Colorado Springs, possibly exposing people who were there between 6 and 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Symptoms can take anywhere from one to three weeks to develop. Unvaccinated people can reduce their risk of infection if they get the shot within 72 hours.

Initial symptoms of measles include a fever, runny nose, red eyes and cough. A red rash develops about four days after someone becomes contagious. If someone who was at an exposure site develops symptoms, they should call ahead before seeking medical care, so their provider can protect other patients from infection.

The state has confirmed 12 measles cases this year.

In a typical year, Colorado has two or fewer, usually involving people who got the virus while traveling overseas, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that anyone going abroad who isn’t already vaccinated get the shot before departing.

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