Latest news with #SaltLakeCountyHealthDepartment
Axios
4 days ago
- Health
- Axios
First West Nile virus case confirmed in Salt Lake County
The Salt Lake County Health Department is warning residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites after confirming the first human case of the West Nile virus in 2025. The big picture: The adult was likely infected "with a more severe form of the disease" in late July, close to the Jordan River in the southern part of the county, and hospitalized, the health department's investigation revealed Thursday. They are now recovering at home. Catch up quick: Mosquito abatement districts in Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake and Magna have found the insects infected with the virus so far this season. 14 people in Utah became infected with the disease last year and one person died after contracting it in 2023. Threat level: The virus can cause mild to severe health complications, including a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after a bite. Less than 1% of infections result in severe health outcomes or death, per the CDC. People ages 50 and older with weakened immune systems carry the highest risk of illness, according to the health department. County health officials released tips to avoid mosquito exposure:
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Boil water advisory remains in place, Draper City says
DRAPER, Utah (ABC4) — The water boil order issued yesterday, June 5, for WaterPro customers in Draper remains in place, according to Draper City on social media. The City said that water testing results are expected to be in around 4 p.m. today, June 6. The Salt Lake County Health Department issued a boil water advisory for some WaterPro customers in Draper on Thursday around 6 p.m. WaterPro notified affected customers that there was potential contamination to the drinking water system, outlined in the below. As a precaution, the Utah Division of Drinking Water issued a . WaterPro-Water-System-Potentially-Affected-AreaDownload WaterPro is one of two water utilities that serves Draper City, and customers served by the Draper City water company are not affected. According to WaterPro, the contamination came from a cross-connection between secondary and culinary water systems, allowing untreated water to enter the drinking water system. WaterPro is reportedly testing to determine bacteria levels in the water supply, and so far, chlorine levels observed have been normal. Scam Alert: Riverton police warn of court scam Boil water advisory remains in place, Draper City says Attorney to author: The path behind this Utahn's first mystery novel, 'Buried Bones' Utah's next earthquake could hit harder, U of U research suggests Illinois Republican mistakes Sikh for Muslim, calls him delivering prayer in House 'deeply troubling' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
MAP: Boil water advisory issued for some WaterPro customers in Draper
DRAPER, Utah () — The Salt Lake County Health Department issued a boil water advisory for some WaterPro customers in Draper on Thursday around 6 p.m. WaterPro notified affected customers that there has been potential contamination to the drinking water system, outlined in the below. As a precaution, the Utah Division of Drinking Water issued a . WaterPro-Water-System-Potentially-Affected-AreaDownload WaterPro is one of two water utilities that serves Draper City, and customers served by the Draper City water company are not affected. According to WaterPro, the contamination came from a cross-connection between secondary and culinary water systems, allowing untreated water to enter the drinking water system. WaterPro is reportedly testing to determine bacteria levels in the water supply, and so far, chlorine levels observed have been normal. Residents and businesses in the affected area should boil tap water before using it or use bottled water. In order to properly boil water, it needs to be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and cooled before using it. Salt Lake County Health Department said that boiled or bottled water should be used for the following things until further notice: Drinking (pets and people) Making ice Brushing teeth Washing dishes Washing produce Bathing/showering Baby formula Food preparation Humidifiers, CPAP, and other medical devices Discard any stored water, drinks, and ice made from the water supply in the last 24 hours. Flush any humidifiers, CPAP, and other medical devices with boiled or bottled water. After the order is lifted, flush all water dispensers (including on refrigerators) and discard all ice made for 24 hours. According to the Salt Lake County Health Department, contaminated water can possibly expose you to: Bacteria (e.g., E. coli, Salmonella) Viruses (e.g., Norovirus, Hepatitis A) Parasites (e.g., Cryptosporidium) Chemical contaminants (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides) Drinking untreated water, or using it to bathe or brush teeth, can cause: Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea Headache, fever or flu-like symptoms More severe illness in young children, older adults or those with weakened immune systems The Health Department urges anyone in the affected area who develops these symptoms to contact their health care provider. The full boil order is included below. WaterPro-Public-Notice-Potential-Water-ContaminationDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Top US summer destination on red alert as traveler with world's most contagious disease infects untold number
A top US summer destination is on red alert after a traveler infected with the world's most contagious disease passed through the state, potentially infecting others. An adult passenger with an active case of measles traveled through Salt Lake City International Airport multiple times before Memorial Day. After landing into Salt Lake City from Canada on May 19, they drove a rental vehicle to a hotel in Burley, Idaho, for a business trip. Four days later, they made the return journey home, taking the same method of transport. Passengers who were on the individual's flights have been contacted by the Salt Lake County Health Department, as have guests who stayed at the same Burley hotel. Another out-of-state resident infectious with measles also passed through the southwestern region of Utah on May 26 and 27, which has heightened the cause for concern. Utah officials are warning anyone who fears they may have been exposed to contact their health provider and monitor for symptoms in what is the latest in a string of measles scares to rock America's major airports and surrounding neighborhoods. The last reported measles infection in Utah - which is a popular tourist destination for its stunning National Parks including Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion - was in March of 2023. A person who was not vaccinated traveled outside the US and brought measles back to Utah but they weren't believed to have infected anyone else. Before that, there were three people in Utah who had measles in February 2017, with one child who was not up-to-date on vaccinations being the one to infect two other unvaccinated individuals. The two fresh Utah cases come as measles cases in the US continue to spike. Currently there have been 1,088 confirmed measles cases and at least three deaths reported by 33 states. Of these cases, three-quarters are in children under the age of 19. In an updated advisory, the CDC is warning that people can get infected with measles during travel or at crowded events, unless they are fully vaccinated or have had the disease. The notice reads: 'Travelers can catch measles in many travel settings, including travel hubs like airports and train stations, on public transportation like airplanes and trains, at tourist attractions, and at large, crowded events. 'Infected travelers can bring the disease back to their home communities where it can spread rapidly among people who are not immune.' The government agency recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before traveling to an international destination. The last time measles was this rife in the US was in 2019, when there were 1,274 cases reported for the entire year. Prior to that, the biggest outbreak was in 1990, with numbers spiking to more than 27,000. Measles was officially eradicated in the US in 2000 amid a successful vaccination campaign. At the time, the CDC described achieving measles elimination status in the US as a 'historic public health achievement'. However, a recent study found uptake of the vaccine among children declined in eight in 10 US counties last year, which is being signaled as the cause of the measles resurgence. Overall, vaccine rates fell three percent across the country. It means that merely 91 percent of children are vaccinated against measles, which is well below the 95 percent need to prevent the disease from spreading and causing death. The Johns Hopkins University researchers warned that if vaccination rates continue to fall, measles is likely to completely return and become a common infection among Americans. A majority of those infected as well as the all of the deceased had not received their MMR vaccine - primarily due to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, experts say. Without the MMR vaccine, which is 97 percent effective at stopping infections, measles is thought to be the most infectious disease in the world. It causes tiny white spots inside the mouth, flat red spots on the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet, ear infections and an intense fever. In terms of when to get vaccinated, experts say children need two doses of MMR vaccine: the first dose at age 12-15 months, and the second dose at age 4-6 years. Babies ages 6-11 months should get an early dose if traveling internationally. Adults should also check to see if they are immune to measles.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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
