Measles is actively spreading in Salt Lake County, with a confirmed infection at Highland High School prompting health officials to notify potentially exposed students and parents. The Salt Lake County Health Department reported the infectious student attended school on February 6 and continuously from February 9 through February 13, potentially exposing a wide range of individuals.
Dorothy Adams, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, urged caution, stating, “But please stay home if you have any signs of illness, especially now that we realize measles is actively circulating in our community.” The department is working to notify those who may have been in contact with the infected student, prioritizing those without vaccination records. Unvaccinated students have been advised to closely monitor themselves for symptoms.
Health officials estimate a 90% chance of infection for unvaccinated individuals who were in contact with the student, shared the same space, or entered a location the student occupied within two hours of their presence. Those potentially exposed are advised to monitor for symptoms for 21 days and to contact their healthcare provider for guidance before seeking medical attention to prevent further spread.
This exposure at Highland High School follows a similar incident in Tooele County, where a student at Stansbury High School was found to be infectious on February 9 and 10 after exposure at a multi-district school event. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported a total of 300 confirmed measles cases in the current outbreak as of Tuesday, with 58 cases reported in the last three weeks.
Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for protection, which is effective in 97% of cases, though vaccinated individuals still have a slight risk of infection and transmission.
Individuals born before 1957, those with a confirmed prior measles infection, or those who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are considered immune. Of the 300 cases in the current outbreak, 255 were unvaccinated, 23 were vaccinated, and the vaccination status of the remaining cases is unknown. Hospitalization has been required for one in every twelve cases in Utah.
Recent wastewater samples collected on February 10 have detected the presence of measles in Salt Lake County, Utah County, and Southwest Utah, indicating broader community circulation. The Salt Lake County Health Department continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
