US in danger of losing its measles elimination status
Nov 6, 2025, 7:16 PM | Updated: Nov 7, 2025, 3:46 pm
Jody deJonge, R.N., holds a multi-dose vial of the measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccination at the Salt Lake Public Health Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. is in danger of losing its measles elimination status if the disease continues to spread into the new year.
Utah has seen a growing number of measles cases this year. The latest case being confirmed by the Utah County Health Department on Oct. 31.
Utah State Epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen said most Utahns do have the measles vaccine, but the people who don’t are the ones at risk.
“But it is concerning that there are people that aren’t certain about the vaccine that have seen things on the web, have heard things on the radio that make them question it. So those people are at risk,” Dr. Nolen said. “And it is a concern that we need to work on to work with those communities and get them to understand the importance of protecting themselves.”
Utah losing measles herd immunity
Dr. Nolen told KSL that Utah is also losing its herd immunity due to the lower numbers of protected people.
“Herd immunity means that enough people are protected that you can’t actually transmit the disease from one person to the next. And that only works when there’s enough people who are protected that it can’t go around,” said Nolen. “To be able to make sure it doesn’t spread, we have to have most people protected; in fact, at least 95% of people have to be protected so that it can’t sneak around and continue to infect people.”
Nolen said that a few areas in the state are already below that 95% benchmark, with more to join as people refuse to vaccinate.
Utah has seen 64 positive measles cases this year mostly in the Southwest. The Utah County Health Department stated the highly contagious viral illness is spread through the air by coughs and sneezes. It also urges families to ensure all members are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.
