(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist, updates on the fifth confirmed case of measles in Utah on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
On Friday, officials at the Bear River Health Department found themselves in a time crunch after discovering that 11 infants in their area had been exposed to measles days prior.
They had to quickly notify the families of these infants and provide post-exposure treatment before the window of effectiveness closed.
The exposure occurred when the infants visited a clinic where an infected individual had been present.
Jordan Mathis, the health director of Bear River, which oversees Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties, mentioned that coordinating with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, along with Intermountain Health, was crucial in reducing the likelihood of infection among the infants.
Mathis explained that the 11 infants encountered the virus at Intermountain Health’s Budge Clinic in Logan on September 15. Due to their young age, they were at a higher risk for severe complications like pneumonia, brain infections, seizures, or even death.
Since none were older than one year, they hadn’t had the chance to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine yet.
The state has a stockpile of post-exposure prophylactic globulin available for scenarios where infants and others ineligible for the vaccine have been exposed, according to Mathis.
However, he noted that this treatment must be given within six days to be effective.
“We had until Sunday to get everyone treated,” he remarked. “It was definitely a situation where we had to adapt quickly.”
By 10 p.m. on Friday, all the families had been informed about the exposure.
Thanks to coordination with Intermountain Health and the state health department, Bear River officials managed to arrange a clinic on Saturday. Nine of the families accepted the treatment there.
The remaining two babies had to be taken to an emergency room for IV treatment because of their small size.
Mathis described it as a successful collaboration aimed at minimizing the disease’s spread within the community.
As of Tuesday, none of the infants had shown any symptoms of measles, as reported by Bear River spokesperson Estee Hunt. Symptoms typically emerge within seven to 14 days if an infection occurs, according to Utah health authorities.
Utah has documented 41 confirmed measles cases this year, with four occurring in the Bear River district.
While the infants received post-exposure treatment, Mathis underscored the importance of the MMR vaccine as a safe preventive measure for those who can receive it. Pregnant individuals, for example, are not eligible.
Health officials in Utah state that the vaccine is 97% effective for those receiving both doses.
It is generally recommended that children get their first dose after their first birthday, followed by a second dose when they are between 4 and 6 years old.
The 11 infants who received post-exposure treatment will have a delayed schedule for their MMR vaccinations, as Mathis indicated.
Dr. Leisha Nolen, the state epidemiologist, pointed out that while the supply of post-exposure treatment for young infants is limited, it may not be sufficient in the case of a widespread outbreak.
