There have now been nine verified measles infections in the state, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services reports
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Public health officials are sounding the alarm about the first confirmed measles case in Utah. Dr. Leisha Nolen, the state epidemiologist, provided an update on an adult in Utah County diagnosed with the disease on Friday, June 20, 2025.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed a total of nine measles cases in the state as of Tuesday.
Of those infected, seven are from Utah County, while two are located in the southwestern part of the state.
Recently, two new cases from Utah County were reported on Friday, and the other two were logged on Tuesday. All four individuals were known contacts of previously infected persons and were under active observation for measles symptoms, according to the department.
Notably, all nine people who have contracted the virus are unvaccinated.
Those infected usually begin showing symptoms one to two weeks after exposure. Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Typically, about four days after the fever onset, a rash develops, starting at the hairline and spreading across the face, as explained by Dr. Nolen.
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is known to be 97% effective against measles when two doses are administered, according to state health officials.
Just last Thursday, the department announced two cases that brought the total to five, which included one child. Officials confirmed that exposure was known for these new cases.
Among the initial five cases, two of the individuals were pregnant, and two were hospitalized but later released.
The department advises those planning to become pregnant to get vaccinated beforehand to protect themselves and their future child. Pregnant individuals cannot receive the vaccine, and those with measles during pregnancy face heightened risks such as miscarriages and complications for their baby.
Dr. Nolen encouraged unvaccinated individuals to have serious discussions with their healthcare providers about vaccination, emphasizing that adults who get vaccinated are helping to protect infants who haven’t received the vaccine yet.
Interestingly, Nolen noted that there’s a higher rate of unvaccinated people in southern Utah compared to other regions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 27 outbreaks and 1,267 confirmed cases of measles nationwide as of Tuesday, with three fatalities reported. The CDC recorded 285 cases throughout the U.S. in 2024.
Even though the CDC declared measles eliminated in the United States in 2000, the disease is spreading now due to MMR vaccination rates among kindergarteners falling below the critical 95% target and global measles activity rising.
In Utah’s 2024-25 school year, approximately 10% of kindergarteners had either received exemptions from the MMR vaccination or lacked the necessary documentation proving vaccination, according to state health data.
