Denver Health Brief: Measles exposure alert at DIA, bird flu order, and a patient-privacy update
Denver, CO – February 27, 2026 – Measles exposure alerts at DIA, a bird flu executive order, and Denver Health’s privacy update draw attention.
Denver-area public health messaging this week centered on outbreak prevention and on-the-ground guidance for patients navigating insurance and privacy concerns.
Outbreak watch: Measles exposure alert tied to DIA and Littleton
State and local health agencies issued a public notice about potential measles exposures in Colorado linked to an out-of-state traveler who was infectious while moving through Denver International Airport (DEN) and attending a church event. The notice lists a potential exposure window at DEN on Saturday, Feb. 21, including arrival at Gate A83 in Concourse A and travel through the main terminal, and it also identifies a Sunday, Feb. 22 exposure window at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Littleton during a service and reception.
Officials said passengers on the identified Frontier flights are expected to be contacted directly by public health agencies. The CDPHE notice also states the person was fully vaccinated, which lowers (but does not eliminate) the chance of transmission.
The guidance asks people who were at the listed locations during the specified times to monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure (through March 16) and to call ahead before going to a clinic, urgent care, or an emergency department if symptoms develop, to reduce the risk of exposing others.
State response: Executive order memorializes avian influenza disaster declaration
On Thursday, Feb. 26, Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order memorializing Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera’s earlier verbal disaster declaration for a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Weld County. The governor’s office said the action supported state coordination for monitoring and mitigation of disease spread, response operations, consequence management, and recovery efforts.
While the declaration is not specific to Denver, it reflects how outbreak response planning in Colorado can involve multiple agencies and systems that also serve metro-area residents.
Care access and insurance: Denver Health posts patient guidance on Medicaid data sharing
Denver Health has published a standing information page for patients addressing privacy and access concerns tied to federal policy changes. The page notes that, as of Jan. 6, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) can share limited Medicaid information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Denver Health emphasizes it has not changed its own practices for protecting health records, and it includes practical clarifications such as the limits of what CMS does and does not have access to.
The same Denver Health page outlines how law enforcement requests on hospital property are handled through Denver Health security and management.
Sources
https://cdphe.colorado.gov/press-release/health-officials-alert-public-of-potential-measles-exposures-at-DIA-Littleton
https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-memorializes-verbal-disaster-declaration-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-weld
https://dh-prod.viewsite.link/patients-visitors/current-events-and-your-care
https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/02/26/jared-polis-ice-subpoena-lawsuit
