New Measles Case Confirmed in Salt Lake County

(SALT LAKE COUNTY)—The Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD) has confirmed a case of measles in the Bingham Kopper Kids childcare facility, which is within Bingham High School in South Jordan. The infected person is unvaccinated, and the source of the infection is unknown. They were infectious while attending the childcare facility from December 1-5.

SLCoHD, working closely with Bingham High School and Jordan School District, has directly notified everyone unvaccinated who is known to have had direct contact with the infected individual. Because measles is exceptionally contagious, can travel through the air, and can remain in the air even after an infected person leaves the area, health officials and the school district also notified everyone in the Bingham High School community of this possible exposure.

Most people are protected through routine childhood vaccination, but those who are unvaccinated are at much higher risk of infection and, if they were exposed, may need to remain home (quarantine) during their incubation period to monitor and see if they develop illness. Infected people can spread measles even before they show symptoms.

"Measles is extremely contagious, so quick action is critical," said Dorothy Adams, SLCoHD executive director. "Because we don't know where this infection originated, it's important that everyone in the Bingham school community be aware of symptoms and the possibility they were exposed."

Measles symptoms usually appear 7-21 days after exposure and may include high fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward. Anyone associated with Bingham High School who develops symptoms should call their healthcare provider or clinic before arriving so the facility can provide instructions about how to seek care without exposing other people to the virus.

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 vaccination recommendations vary based on age and prior 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. (Children in areas experiencing a measles outbreak—including Salt Lake County—or who will be traveling to an area with active measles transmission may receive an early first dose of MMR at 6 months old.)
• Adults born before 1957 generally do not need to be vaccinated because they are likely already immune due to widespread infection before the vaccine became available in 1963.
• Adults vaccinated before 1968 should receive a second dose because the vaccine used from 1963-1967 was less effective than the version introduced in 1968.
• Adults vaccinated in 1968 or later are considered fully protected whether they received one or two doses, although 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 healthcare provider or the secure Docket app. If records are unavailable, it is safe to receive an additional dose of MMR. The vaccine is widely available at pharmacies, health care providers and SLCoHD immunization clinics; call 385-468-SHOT to schedule an appointment at a health department clinic.