Mesa County Public Health Releases 2025 Impact Report

Report highlights measles cases, new department creation, and increased Naloxone access in the county.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Mesa County Public Health has released its 2025 Impact Report, detailing a range of public health initiatives and responses in the county over the past year. The report covers topics such as the county's first measles cases in 20 years, the creation of new departments like the Behavioral Health Division and Natural Resources Department, and the community's increased access to life-saving Naloxone kits.

Why it matters

The 2025 Impact Report provides valuable insights into the public health challenges and successes experienced by Mesa County, Colorado in the previous year. It highlights the county's ability to respond effectively to emerging health issues like measles outbreaks, as well as its efforts to expand access to critical resources like addiction treatment. The report offers a comprehensive look at the county's public health priorities and initiatives.

The details

According to the report, Mesa County saw 11 measles cases in 2025, the first such cases in the county in 20 years. In response, 27 staff members dedicated roughly 500 hours of incident command work to help contain the spread of the disease. The report also details the creation of new county departments, including the Behavioral Health Division and the Natural Resources Department, which houses a non-motorized trail crew. Additionally, the report highlights Mesa County Public Health's work to improve access to Naloxone, with the community accessing over 8,000 kits in 2025 to help stop overdoses.

  • In 2025, Mesa County saw its first measles cases in 20 years.
  • Over a month-long period, Mesa County Public Health staff put in roughly 500 hours of cumulative incident command work to help contain the measles outbreak.

The players

Erin Minnerath

The Interim Executive Director of Mesa County Public Health.

Mesa County Public Health

The public health agency for Mesa County, Colorado, which released the 2025 Impact Report.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're taking last year's data and we are building a plan for this year and even into the future to try to do more, have a bigger impact, maybe narrow our focus on a specific population.”

— Erin Minnerath, Interim Executive Director, Mesa County Public Health (westernslopenow.com)

“I think our staff were just ready. That felt really good. I was really proud of it because they continue to show up every day to go through these efforts, and we did this for over a month.”

— Erin Minnerath, Interim Executive Director, Mesa County Public Health (westernslopenow.com)

“This literally can save lives. Overdose deaths are a big impact to our community that we want to try to help prevent.”

— Erin Minnerath, Interim Executive Director, Mesa County Public Health (westernslopenow.com)

What’s next

The 2025 Impact Report will help guide Mesa County Public Health's priorities and initiatives for the coming year, as the agency looks to build on its successes and address emerging public health challenges in the region.

The takeaway

Mesa County Public Health's 2025 Impact Report demonstrates the agency's ability to effectively respond to public health crises, expand access to critical resources, and continuously adapt its approach to better serve the community. The report highlights the county's commitment to proactive, data-driven public health initiatives that aim to improve overall community wellbeing.