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Erika DeBenedictis, a participant in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, explains her work with cluster computers and shows off her prowess with a Rubik's cube. Watch »

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A measles scare didn't stop the confetti from flying, kids from cheering and a host of prizes being given out at the awards ceremony of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

The disease was positively diagnosed in a girl from India late Thursday, setting off fears that an outbreak could spread - especially to fair visitors from some of the 47 countries that don't vaccinate as regularly as health departments in the United States do.

But as awards were presented Friday afternoon at Expo New Mexico, a warehouse-sized clinic stood mostly empty as 1,500 kids from around the world shrugged their shoulders at a disease of which they said they weren't particularly afraid.

"We were vaccinated as kids," said Zahra Moein Maaroul, 18, from Lebanon, as she sat with her two teammates. "I was a little worried, but it's OK."

Her group was much more excited by the thought that her team won second place in the Computer Science category at the fair - and a $1,500 cash prize, said teammate Deena Kaddoura, 17.

"We, the international kids, we didn't really talk about the measles that much," Kaddoura said. "I think it's not that much of a big deal."

The state Department of Health, which set up the clinic, screened about 300 people over the day and gave between 150 and 200 shots, said Margy Weinbar, regional director.

"We're going to monitor the disease in the community and look for additional cases," Weinbar said, adding that the department is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and health departments in other states to watch for a possible outbreak.

The department was ready to handle 3,000 people at the clinic, which was open to the public, she said.

News of the disease tinged what otherwise has been a highly successful event, said Russ Fisher-Ives, a co-organizer.

"We far exceeded our own expectations," he said of the weeklong event. "The comments from many veteran fair attendees - they were just amazed."

Albuquerque-area students cleaned up on awards, netting two second-place, one third-place and three fourth-place awards in some of the 18 scientific categories.

"That's very good," Fisher-Ives said. "The fact is that about two-thirds of these kids will walk home without anything. We're putting up great numbers. New Mexico has always done very well at this international event."

Still, Erika DeBenedictis, who won second place for an individual in the computer science category, sagged her shoulders and grumbled a bit at her prize. The 15-year-old freshman at St. Pius X High School wanted to win first place, she said.

"Oh, I like second place just fine," DeBenedictis said. "First would have been better."

Susannah Clary, a 16-year-old junior at Los Lunas High School, was more excited by her second-place win in the animal sciences category.

"I'm very pleased," Clary said. "This is my second time winning second at the international fair. I want to go further and win a first place next year."

Clary and DeBenedictis won $1,500 each for their second-place wins, plus some smaller awards given out Thursday.

They said they were worried about the international kids catching measles, but not so worried about their peers from the United States because of the vaccination system here.

"It's kind of unavoidable, a disease at a place like this," DeBenedictis said. "There's people from all over the world. It sounds like the contagion was minimal, though."

Overall, the awards went smoothly, with standing ovations and loud cheers across Tingley Coliseum for every student who won an award.

And confetti blasted from two cannons hidden at the front of the stage as the final three top prizes were given to Jack Li, a 17-year-old senior from Maryland; Philip Streich, a 16-year-old sophomore from Wisconsin; and Dmitry Vaintrob, an 18-year-old senior from Oregon.

"I think we threw a heck of a party," said Jeanette Miller, a co-organizer. "It's been a lot of work - but also a lot of fun."