Utah health officials say the state is at low risk for measles despite a drop in vaccination rates

SALT LAKE CITY — Although there are currently no cases of measles in Utah, health officials are closely monitoring an outbreak in Texas and New Mexico after a person died from the virus on Wednesday in West Texas.

The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000, but now there are over 130 active cases, most in unvaccinated communities.

Utah is currently at low risk, however, Utah Department of Health and Human Services Preventable Disease Manager Amelia Salmanson said the virus is contagious.

“Measles is really contagious,” Salmanson said. “(It) can definitely be serious for, you know, children under five, and the spread is very high among people who are unvaccinated.”

Salmanson said most of Utah has high vaccination rates.

“In terms of coverage in Utah, or vaccine coverage, our general coverage is actually very good,” Salmanson said. “But, you know, pockets with lower vaccine coverage are gonna be the ones that are most at risk of large outbreak.”

According to the latest vaccine data from the health department, three regions in the state have lower vaccination rates: Central, Southwest, and TriCounty which includes Uinta, Daggett and Duchesne counties.

Utah has seen a 1% decrease in childhood vaccination rates each year since 2021. Currently, 87% of children under three are up-to-date on the combined seven-series vaccines and all other recommended vaccinations

Salmanson said over the past two years they have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to prepare for any potential outbreaks in the state.

“We’ve been doing a lot of, enhanced communication and discussion with medical providers, health care facilities in Utah  and our local public health department,” Salmanson said.

To confirm a measles case, doctors must collect samples and send them to the health department for confirmation. Salmanson said that the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Preventable Disease team has been coordinating with doctors and hospitals to review systems, processes and preparation of samples.

She also says they have been doing a lot of work with local public health.

“We do see a lot of kids with with rash and cold like symptoms,” Salmanson said. “So really having conversations with public health on assessing these cases … determining how public health is responding.”

According to Salmanson, anytime they get a call they are equally concerned regardless of location, but they may pay special attention to any reported cases in a lower vaccination area.

“The best way to prevent infection and protect yourselves and your family is gonna be through, vaccination,” Salmanson said. “Which is the MMR measles, mumps, rubella, vaccine.”

Related: An unvaccinated child has died in the Texas measles outbreak