Measles Case Confirmed in Juab School District

NEPHI — Juab School District confirmed on Saturday that a student at Juab Jr. High School has been diagnosed with measles, adding to the increasing number of cases in Utah.

Kodey Hughes, the district superintendent, noted that the district was informed of the possible case three days into last week’s spring break. Interestingly, he mentioned that the timing of the confirmation during the break actually benefited the district. It allowed officials to collaborate with the Central Utah Health Department to identify which classes the infected student attended and whether unvaccinated students were at risk.

“We might have had to… cancel some classes or send students home. So, I guess it was fortunate that we didn’t have to deal with that immediately,” Hughes remarked.

As students returned to school on Monday, Hughes shared that everything seemed mostly normal across the district. However, there were some challenges. “The only issue today involved students who had been in contact with the infected student but weren’t vaccinated, expressing reluctance about staying home. We had to explain that the health department advised against it,” he said, noting the district can’t force students to stay away if they want to come to school.

Utah’s Increasing Measles Outbreak

In the past three weeks, Utah has reported 121 new measles cases, making its outbreak the most substantial in the U.S., based on data from the CDC.

As of Monday, Utah has recorded 583 confirmed cases since last year’s outbreak began. The situation in 2026 has, unfortunately, been worse, with 386 cases this year alone, whereas there were 197 cases in 2025, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

Symptoms of measles generally surface seven to 14 days after exposure. Early signs include a high fever (101 degrees Fahrenheit or above), cough, runny nose, or red eyes, with the characteristic rash typically appearing on the third or fourth day of the fever.

The department advises that if symptoms develop, individuals should avoid contact with others and contact their healthcare provider beforehand to prevent further exposure.

Interestingly, the CDC reported three measles-related deaths last year. On a positive note, the measles vaccine is highly regarded for its effectiveness. “The vaccine is 93% effective with one dose and 97% with two doses,” said Nicholas Rupp, a spokesman for the Salt Lake County Health Department.

He emphasized that while the vaccine is often recommended for young children, it’s still not too late for adults to get vaccinated or to receive their second dose. “The MMR vaccine has been available since 1963, with extensive research backing its safety and effectiveness,” Rupp explained.

For further details regarding the measles outbreak in Utah, more information is available online.