28-02-2025
Utah health officials encourage vaccination amid multi-state measles outbreak
SALT LAKE CITY () — Days after a , the Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) is recommending Utahns take precautions to protect themselves from the serious disease before it reaches the Beehive State.
Health officials said measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. Those who are not immune to the disease have about a 90 percent chance of getting measles if they are near an infected person and it can spread before symptoms even appear.
According to SLCoHD, the best protection against measles is to get immunized with two doses of the measles-containing vaccine – more commonly known as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
As of Feb. 28, there are no reported cases of measles in the Beehive State. However, multiple states have that are mainly impacting those aged 19 and under. More than 90 percent of those infected in the current outbreak are , according to the CDC.
'For decades the MMR vaccine has been proven safe and effective,' said SLCoHD Executive Director Dorothy Adams. 'Ensuring now that you and your loved ones are adequately protected will help prevent serious illness in our community if this current multistate measles outbreak spreads to Utah.'
According to data from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, measles has been a rarity in Utah over the last 10 years. Since 2015, the Beehive State has only had five reported cases, the most being reported in 2017.
While it's not clear how many adults in Salt Lake City are protected against measles, Utah health officials said 92.3 percent of kindergartners in Salt Lake County are up to date on their vaccinations.
'A high level of community immunity is essential to protect infants too young to be vaccinated, as well as people who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons,' continued Adams. 'Vaccination is not just about you, but also about protecting the people around you.'
Measles symptoms usually start one to two weeks after infection. Symptoms will usually start with a fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes. Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots will typically begin to appear inside the mouth.
A rash will appear three to five days after the first symptoms that start as flat, red spots at the hairline before spreading down the rest of the body, according to SLCoHD.
Many people who are infected with measles will have mild symptoms, but SLCoHD said about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles will need to be hospitalized. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have serious problems related to measles.
The CDC said before the vaccine, an estimated 48,000 people were hospitalized due to measles each year. Each year, an estimated 400 to 500 people die from the disease.
If you think you have measles or learn you've been around someone with measles, SLCoHD recommends contacting your healthcare provider immediately.
Utah health officials said most children receive their two doses of the measles vaccine at a young age. The first dose is given between 12 and 15 months and the second is provided between ages 4 and 6.
Anyone born after 1968 is considered to be fully protected against measles, according to SLCoHD, but adults born before 1967 should consider getting a second dose. SLCoHD said this is because the vaccine used between 1963 and 1967 was less effective than the current vaccine that began use in 1968.
Adults who were born before 1957 generally don't need to be vaccinated because they are likely immune after a widespread infection and illness before the vaccine was first made available in 1963.
To find out if you or your child need a dose of measles vaccine, talk to your health care provider or check your immunization record.
Most Utahns' immunization records are available via the secure . The MMR vaccine is widely available at local pharmacies, doctor's offices or ; call 385-468-SHOT to schedule a vaccination appointment at a health department clinic.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
