SALT LAKE CITY
Following the confirmation of a measles case that entered Utah last month, health officials have announced that they’re closely monitoring another potential measles incident in the southwestern part of the state.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported being notified on Monday about an unvaccinated resident from another state who was infectious with measles and visited southwestern Utah to see family on May 26 and 27.
According to the health department, this individual was active in the community during that time and may have exposed others, particularly unvaccinated individuals.
While the overall risk to the general population is low, the department aims to raise awareness about the “increased risk of measles in this region” given the rising number of cases in nearby states.
Currently, the health officials lack detailed information about who may have been exposed but are working to identify those individuals and provide necessary information and preventive measures.
Previous Incident
This new case closely follows another one reported last month. The initial case was discussed in a meeting on Monday with the Summit County Board of Health. It was confirmed that the individual was vaccinated, which significantly mitigated the risk of transmission.
The case began when an international traveler arrived from Canada, flew to Salt Lake City, and then drove to southern Idaho without making any stops in Utah. While in Idaho, the individual showed symptoms and was diagnosed with measles, but all exposure concerns were referred to Idaho. This traveler returned to Utah a few days later.
On May 23, the same traveler came back to Salt Lake City, again without stopping in Utah but took a flight while symptomatic, according to Derek Moss, the nursing director for Summit County. The individual had been cleared to fly after health officials determined that their infectious period had passed.
Health authorities in Salt Lake County contacted passengers from the flight and offered resources to help prevent infection. As of now, no new measles cases have been reported among those exposed, and officials are continuing to monitor the situation.
Measles Prevention
The state health department’s Wednesday statement emphasized the ongoing spread of measles across the country and recommended the MMR vaccine to the public.
Given the increasing cases of measles in both North and South America, they encouraged Utah residents to consult with a pharmacist or health care provider to check their vaccination status before summer travels.
