First Confirmed Measles Case in Salt lake County Linked to Unknown Source
Salt Lake County, Utah – Salt Lake County health officials have confirmed the county’s first case of measles during the current national outbreak. The case involves an unvaccinated adult, and the source of their infection remains undetermined, according to a Friday news release from the Salt Lake County Health Department.
Department spokesperson gabriel Moreno stated officials received positive lab results confirming the infection on Wednesday afternoon. Subsequent examination, including interviews with the patient, have not revealed how the individual contracted the virus.
“This case is especially concerning because the source of the patient’s infection is unknown,” said Dorothy Adams, Executive Director of the Salt Lake County Health Department. “They have not knowingly had contact with anyone who had measles, which means their infection is the result of transmission somewhere out in the community.”
Public health officials have identified a potential exposure location: Intermountain Health’s Taylorsville InstaCare, located at 3845 W. 4700 South in Taylorsville. Anyone who was at the InstaCare facility last Friday,November 7th,between 3:00 PM and 7:15 PM may have been exposed. Health officials report they have contacted most individuals known to have been present during that time.
Measles is highly contagious and can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person has left a location. The Health Department advises anyone who visited the Taylorsville instacare during the specified timeframe to verify their measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination status.
Individuals who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are considered 97% protected against measles infection.
This confirmed case marks the 77th measles case reported in Utah this year, and the 13th within the last three weeks, according to state data.
Previously, in late october, Salt Lake county investigated a potential case, but confirmation was impractical as the individual refused testing and participation in the investigation. this earlier, unconfirmed case is unrelated to the current confirmed infection.
Nationally, the centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1,700 confirmed measles cases across 42 states. this outbreak coincides with a decline in MMR vaccination rates among kindergartners. While 95% vaccination coverage is needed to achieve “herd immunity,” national rates have fallen from 95.2% in the 2019-20 school year to 92.7% in 2023-24.
Utah’s kindergarten vaccination rate is lower, with the CDC estimating only 88.8% were adequately vaccinated against measles during the 2023-24 school year.
