Health Officials Warn That Measles Is Actively Spreading in SLCo

SALT LAKE COUNTY—The Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) cautioned today that measles is actively spreading in Salt Lake County, and asked county residents to please avoid attending work or school—or participating in school extracurricular activities—if they have any symptoms of illness at all.

“The first measles symptoms are often cold- or flu-like, with cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, and fever, so you may think you have a common respiratory illness and can continue engaging in normal activities,” said Dorothy Adams, executive director of SLCoHD. “But please stay home if you have any signs of illness, especially now that we know measles is actively circulating in our community.”

People who are not immune to measles should be particularly suspicious of any symptoms. You are considered immune to measles if you:

• were born before 1957,
• have had a measles infection confirmed by a lab or health care provider, or
• have had one or two doses of the MMR vaccine (depending on age—see below for details) 

Utah’s public health system works quickly to notify people known to have been in contact with someone confirmed to have measles, but health officials believe not all cases of measles are being formally diagnosed or reported to the public health system. If you have been notified that you’ve been exposed to measles, you should watch for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure. After the early, cold-like symptoms, a rash typically starts several days later and begins on the head or face. Anyone who thinks they have measles should call their health care provider for instructions 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 still 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.