Measles Case Confirmed in Salt Lake County; Source of Infection Unknown

SALT LAKE COUNTY— The Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) has confirmed a measles infection in an adult resident of the county—the first lab-confirmed case identified in Salt Lake County during the current national measles outbreak. The adult is unvaccinated.

“This case is especially concerning because the source of the patient’s infection is unknown,” said Dorothy Adams, SLCoHD executive director. “They have not knowingly had contact with anyone who had measles, which means their infection is the result of transmission somewhere out in the community.” 

SLCoHD epidemiologists are working quickly to notify directly everyone they are aware of whom this patient may have exposed. In addition to personal contacts already notified individually, the patient visited one public location while they were infectious; people who were at the following location during the indicated dates and times may have been exposed:

• Taylorsville InstaCare, 3845 West 4700 South, on Friday, November 7 from 3:00 to 7:15 p.m.
   

Because measles can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, people who were at this location during the listed time may have been exposed even without direct contact with the patient. People who were there should confirm their measles immunity status immediately. You are considered immune if you have documentation of one or two doses of the MMR vaccine (depending on age—see below for details), laboratory evidence of immunity, a previous diagnosis of measles from a health care provider, or a birth year before 1957.

If you have been exposed to measles, you should watch for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure. Early symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically starts several days later and begins on the head or face. Anyone who thinks they have measles or has been exposed to someone with measles should stay home and call their health care provider before seeking care so the provider can plan to see you without exposing others.

The best protection against measles is vaccination. Two doses of the MMR vaccine prevent more than 97 percent of measles infections, and vaccinated people who do get measles tend to have milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the virus. Unvaccinated people—including children too young to be vaccinated—are more likely to experience severe complications.

Measles vaccine recommendations vary based on age and vaccination history: 

• Children should receive two doses of measles vaccine: one dose at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years. 
• Adults born before 1957 generally do not need to be vaccinated because they are likely already immune to measles due to widespread infection and illness before the measles vaccine became available in 1963. 
• Adults who were vaccinated before 1968 should have a second dose because the vaccine used from 1963–1967 was less effective than the current vaccine, which became available in 1968. 
• Adults who were vaccinated in 1968 or later are considered fully protected whether they have one or two doses, though certain higher risk groups (college students, healthcare workers, international travelers) should have two doses.

People who are unsure of their vaccination status can check their records through their health care provider or the secure Docket app. If records are unavailable, receiving an additional dose of MMR is safe. The vaccine is widely available at pharmacies, medical offices, and SLCoHD immunization clinics; call 385-468-SHOT to schedule a vaccination appointment at a health department clinic.

Health care providers should report suspect measles cases immediately to SLCoHD by calling 385-468-8888; instructions are available on that line for disease reporting, including after-hours.