SALT LAKE CITY

Utah is seeing a notable rise in measles cases, with nearly 50 more reported in 2026 compared to the previous year. The outbreak has reached every health department across the state.

As of Tuesday, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services noted 443 confirmed cases during the current outbreak, with 246 of these occurring just this year. In the last three weeks alone, 98 new cases have been identified.

Recent exposure sites in Utah include:

• A second incident at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium on March 10 and 11, following a prior exposure on March 2.
• Cottonwood Megaplex on March 10.
• Kangaroo Zoo in North Salt Lake on March 9.
• A music competition at Legacy Preparatory Academy Junior High on March 5.
• Megaplex Theatres in Centerville on March 1.
• Bristlecone Coffee Shop in Cedar City from March 9 to March 11.
• Reagan Academy in Springville on March 11.
• Dry Creek and River Walk Elementary Schools in Lehi on March 2.
• Diamond Valley Elementary in St. George on March 4 and 5.

For additional exposure locations, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services has more information available on its website, although some exposure sites may not have been recorded.

People who think they may have been exposed are advised to monitor for symptoms for 21 days afterward. Measles is highly contagious and can spread easily through the air.

Symptoms typically show up seven to 14 days post-exposure, initially presenting with fever, cough, runny nose, or red eyes. After about four days of fever, a rash—commonly associated with measles—will appear. According to health officials, there’s no specific treatment for measles post-infection, but there are options to alleviate symptoms and manage complications. Vaccination is the best prevention against measles.

Amelia Salmanson, a manager at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services for preventable diseases, emphasized that the MMR vaccine is quite effective in preventing measles, even after just one dose. Although rare breakthrough cases do occur, they tend to be milder and less contagious. She recommends that unvaccinated individuals consult their healthcare provider or pharmacist regarding vaccination.

Recent wastewater samples across much of Utah have also shown traces of measles. Notably, the Weber-Morgan Health District didn’t report new detections in the past two weeks, while the Wasatch and Davis counties had detections the week before.

There are no sampling sites in the Central Utah and San Juan health districts.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of last Thursday, Utah has recorded more cases in 2026 than any other state, with the exception of South Carolina.