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Yahoo
3 days ago
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Measles outbreak hasn't hit Utah yet, but health officials are bracing for when it does
For years, Utah's early childhood vaccination rates have been declining. (Getty Images) Amid national outbreaks, a confirmed measles case hasn't yet hit Utah — but as nearby states report cases, the highly contagious virus could be closing in. Meanwhile, Utah's childhood vaccination rates have been on a steady decline for years. Local and state public health officials say it's likely a matter of time before the Beehive State gets its first measles case, and they're bracing for if or when it happens. 'We're always looking at cases in other states,' Rich Lakin, immunization program manager at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, told Utah News Dispatch this week. 'We've been ready for a long time, but so far so good. We haven't had any cases here in Utah.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX But to be prepared, Lakin said state public health officials are working with local health departments, clinics, and physicians to ensure they know how to quickly identify a measles case and properly handle it when someone comes in for treatment. Nic Rupp, spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Health Department, said county health officials 'monitor the status nationwide every day.' 'We will likely see a case locally as infections get closer geographically and as people travel more this summer,' Rupp said. In the meantime, he said the Salt Lake County Health Department is encouraging populations with low rates for the MMR vaccine (which protects against measles, mumps and rubella) to get up to date on their shots as part of efforts to minimize the spread of the virus 'when a case does show up here.' The last reported measles infection in Utah was reported in March 2023, according to state health officials. 'A person who was not vaccinated traveled outside the U.S. and brought measles back to Utah,' the state's website says. 'We do not believe anyone else in Utah got measles from this person.' Before that 2023 case, three people in Utah had measles in February 2017. So far this year Utah's neighboring state of Colorado has confirmed five cases, according to NBC News' outbreak tracker. New Mexico has seen 79 cases, 14 of which have been reported in the last four weeks. In Texas, 753 cases have been confirmed, with 60 reported in the last four weeks. NM measles cases rise to 78, with possible exposures at Santa Fe and Albuquerque Walmarts As of Thursday, a total of 1,088 confirmed measles cases have been reported in 2025 from 33 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Fourteen outbreaks have been reported so far in 2025, and 90% of those confirmed cases (977 of 1,088) have been outbreak associated, according to the CDC. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024, and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak associated. For several years now, Utah health officials have tracked a decline in the state's early childhood MMR vaccinations. According to the state's immunization dashboard, the percentage of Utah children that received at least one dose of the MRR vaccine at 24 months old has dropped from 94.5% of those born in 2019 to 89.8% of those born in 2021. 'It has dropped,' Lakin said. He pointed out that the region, which also includes the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, has gone from a 98.3% for the birth year of 2019 'all the way down to 86.4%.' 'So the region as a whole is not doing very well,' he said. That concerns public health officials because travelers tend to visit nearby states, 'anytime you get cases in other states, then it increases our chances of getting a measles case here in Utah.' The ideal vaccination rate to reach herd immunity protection against measles is 95%, he said. Young children are also most at risk if they contract the virus. 'The thing that would concern us the most would be for an adult to get measles, and then you pass it to a 6-month-old that hasn't been vaccinated yet,' he said. The state's dashboard is currently using the latest available data from 2023, Lakin said, but state officials are working to update it soon with 2024 data. Health officials expect that Utah's immunization rate has continued to decline. 'The expectation is, yes, it is continuing to decline,' he said, though he added, 'by how much, I do not know yet.' Poll: Belief in false measles claims correlated with lower vaccination rates State 2023 data shows public school districts tend to have higher immunization rates than charter schools. In Salt Lake County, Canyons, Granite, Jordan, Murray and Salt Lake City school districts, all had more than 95% immunization rates for the second dose of MMR vaccine in K-12 schools, compared to 91.8% in charter schools. However, according to that data, only 92.3% of kindergartners in Salt Lake County are up to date on measles vaccination — below the ideal 95% herd immunity threshold. Last year, Axios reported Utah has one of the nation's highest rates of childhood vaccine waivers. Religious exemptions accounted for the fastest-rising share of exemptions since before the pandemic, accounting for 13% of Utah's waivers last year, up from 5.9% in 2019, according to a state report released last year. The vast majority, however, are attributed to 'personal belief,' accounting for 84.9% of the waivers in the 2023 to 2024 school year. Given the troubling pattern of declining vaccination rates across Utah and other states amid deepening distrust of institutions in the U.S., Lakin acknowledged its 'difficult' to encourage people to vaccinate their children, but he said health officials will continue to try to ensure Utahns get accurate information. 'Look at the history,' he said, adding that back in the 1800s, 'if your child lived to be an adult, you were very happy. Because they either got smallpox or they got measles or they got mumps, or they got rubella, tetanus, or diphtheria. … I mean, think of all these vaccine preventable diseases that we just don't see anymore, and it's because of vaccinations.' Nonpartisan poll finds 'remarkably low' trust in federal health agencies Lakin said 'unfortunately people are losing sight of what these vaccinations are doing and getting the wrong information in such a fast-paced world that we live in now.' 'They're not getting the right information anymore,' he said. 'That's what our continued message is — that vaccinations have been one of the greatest public health achievements we have seen, and we want to continue to keep people safe through vaccinations.' In a news release issued back in February — after Texas announced the first death of a school-aged child from measles — the Salt Lake County Health Department urged people to ensure they're protected. 'For decades, the MMR vaccine has been proven safe and effective,' said Dorothy Adams, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department. '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.' Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known, and it can be so easily spread that people who are not immune have a 90% chance of catching it if they go near an infected person. Someone with measles can spread it to others even before they know they are ill, and the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Salt Lake County health officials said the best protection against measles is to be immunized with two doses of the MMR vaccine, which can prevent more than 97% of measles infections. In the remaining 3% of cases — when a fully vaccinated person catches measles — the symptoms are milder, the illness is shorter, and the infected person is less likely to spread it. Unvaccinated people, including children who are too young to be vaccinated, are more likely to experience severe complications from a measles infection. Measles vaccine recommendations vary based on age and vaccination history. Here's what public health experts recommend: Children should receive two doses of measles vaccine: one dose at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years. Adults born before 1957 generally do not need to be vaccinated because they are likely already immune to measles due to widespread infection and illness before the measles vaccine became available in 1963. Adults who were vaccinated before 1968 should have a second dose because the vaccine used from 1963 to 1967 was less effective than the current vaccine, which became available in 1968. Adults who were vaccinated in 1968 or later are considered fully protected whether they have one or two doses, though certain higher risk groups (college students, health care workers, international travelers) should have two doses. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Readers' Forum: National Home Visiting Week highlights support for families in need
The inaugural National Home Visiting Week takes place April 21–25 and is an opportunity to celebrate home visitors and the positive impact they make on maternal and child health outcomes. As a mom, I fully understand the challenges of parenting. Home visiting professionals empower and work alongside parents to build confidence and resilience. Utilizing a variety of evidence-based models, home visiting supports healthy birth outcomes, increases family self-sufficiency and helps children enter school fully prepared to succeed, all at no cost to the family. Besides the benefits to families, home visiting programs make sense economically, too — studies have found a return on investment of $1.80 to $5.70 for every dollar spent on home visiting. I'm especially proud of the home visiting programs at the Salt Lake County Health Department and the work they do for our Salt Lake County families. The incredible home visitors on their team make a big impact on our local families. This week and every week I'm thankful for these hardworking and compassionate home visiting professionals. Families in Salt Lake County can learn more about our home visiting programs by visiting or calling 385-468-4100. Mayor Jenny Wilson Salt Lake County
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
With measles spreading in U.S., health experts emphasize prevention
Nine states are reporting a total of 164 cases of measles, leading local and national health officials to warn the public that steps should be taken to prevent spread of the highly contagious illness. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are cases in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and Texas. Twenty percent of those who contracted measles have had to be hospitalized and there's one confirmed death. Last year, 285 cases were reported in 33 jurisdictions nationwide for the whole year. The numbers in 2025 so far include less than two full months, prompting health officials to issue advice on avoiding measles and explain what will happen in case of a local outbreak. The Salt Lake County Health Department and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services both issued advisories Friday. Vaccination is at the top of their to-do lists to prevent measles. The reason, county health spokesman Nicholas Rupp told the Deseret News, is that measles is so contagious. Those who are not immune have a 90% chance of contracting the disease if they are exposed. And it can be spread by people before the disease shows any symptoms. Besides that, the virus can linger in the air for two hours after someone who is contagious leaves. Both health departments urge people to get the two-dose mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine if they haven't done so or do not already have immunity. 'The current MMR vaccine has been used since the early 1970s and has saved millions of lives —and prevented significant suffering — around the globe,' said Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. 'The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and Utahns are encouraged to protect their families by getting the recommended vaccine. If you have questions about vaccination, talk to a healthcare provider.' The vaccine regimen — two doses — is 97% effective and for the other 3% who are immunized and get it, symptoms are milder, illness doesn't last as long and the disease is less likely to spread to others. Those who are not vaccinated and those too young to be vaccinated are more prone to severe complications if they contract measles. The CDC describes measles as 'an airborne, extremely infectious and potentially severe rash illness.' Before the vaccine, as many as 48,000 people in the U.S. were hospitalized and 400 to 500 people died every year. Symptoms typically show up a week to two weeks after someone comes in contact with the virus and usually starts with high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A couple of days later, little white spots (called Koplik spots) may show up in the mouth. A day or two after that, the rash appears, typically starting with flat red spots on the face around the hairline, then spreading to the neck, torso and limbs. The rash is usually accompanied by a very high fever, 104° Fahrenheit or greater. About 1 in 10 children with measles develop ear infections and a like number may get diarrhea. Groups most likely to have complications are children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant women and those with weak immune systems. Some people develop severe symptoms, including pneumonia, encephalitis and even death. For pregnant women, measles can cause premature birth or a low-birthweight baby. One deadly complication can develop up to a decade after a person had measles and seemingly recovered completely. Per the CDC, 'Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a very rare, but fatal disease of the central nervous system. It results from a measles virus infection acquired earlier in life.' Measles is not seasonal, but does spread more during times of high travel or where unvaccinated people may be in close contact, like at a summer camp. The CDC estimated that just under 89% of Utahns had received their vaccinations at the time of the 2023-24 school year. According to health officials, measles vaccine recommendations vary. For instance, those born before 1957 likely have their own immunity because measles was so widespread before the vaccine became available in 1963. For others, though, there are age- or timing-based recommendations: Children should have two doses of vaccine: one between 12 and 15 months and another at 4 to 6 years old. Adults vaccinated before 1968 should get a second dose, since the vaccine was improved in 1968. Adults vaccinated after 1968 are considered protected, though college students, health care workers and international travelers are encouraged to make sure they have had two doses of vaccine. Rupp said Salt Lake County records suggest just 92.3% of kindergartners have received their immunizations, which means schools are about 3% below what's needed for herd immunity to stop a community outbreak. 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, Dorothy Adams, executive director of the Salt Lake County health department, said in a news release. She added that getting vaccinated is not just for the individual, but to protect others. Since outbreaks started popping up, Utah health officials in Salt Lake County have been preparing, just in case. Their work has included a public information blitz and internal discussions and preparation for if or when and how to respond, Rupp said. Plans include a need to exclude under-vaccinated or unvaccinated students from school if they have a confirmed exposure. Those students 'will need to quarantine at home for 21 days to watch for symptoms,' he said. 'The only exception is if the exposed student receives post-exposure prophylaxis (which for measles is the MMR vaccine) within three days of the exposure. Given that people with measles are contagious up to four days before the telltale rash appears, the three-day window can be challenging to meet since the original patient may not know they have measles (and not just a cold) until after that window has passed.' Others with known exposures will also be asked to quarantine for 21 days. They need to stay home from school and work, and not be out shopping or doing other things that expose others in the community, he said. State health department experts have advice for anyone who has been around someone who has measles or who thinks they may have gotten measles: 'Call a healthcare provider right away. Tell them you've been exposed to measles so they can make special arrangements to see you without putting other people in their office at risk.' For those who may not know their vaccination status, the county health department said most records on immunizations in Utah can be found on the secure Docket app or website. The mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine is widely available at local pharmacies, doctor's offices or SLCoHD immunization clinics; call 385-468-SHOT to schedule a vaccination appointment at a health department clinic.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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.
