Health officials concerned measles cases could go up as school starts
Aug 16, 2025, 10:47 AM
(Canva)
(Canva)
More about Measles
Rupp says measles includes flu or cold like symptoms followed by a rash on the forehead that moves down the body. It could take three full weeks for symptoms to manifest. But Rupp says by the time you see the rash you’ve already been contagious, possibly for weeks.
Rupp says measles is extremely contagious, and that it will stay in a room for hours after an infected person has left, potentially exposing people without their knowledge.
What to do
Rupp says the best way to protect yourself from the virus is to get vaccinated. In just two doses of the MMR vaccine a person is 97% protected if exposed to the virus.
Rupp urges parents to make sure their kids are up to date with vaccines before sending them back to school.
He says getting measles can be very serious and isn’t a simple, easy childhood illness. It could cause neurological problems, pneumonia and even death.
“Many, many people died of the measles before we had the vaccine available,” Rupp said. “We still have that vaccine we can protect ourselves without that risk.”
Related: 2 cases of West Nile virus confirmed in Cache County, bringing state’s total to 3
