Utah News Dispatch
Utah measles case count grows to 5 patients
For years, Utah’s early childhood vaccination rates have been declining. (Getty Images)
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services reported Thursday two more measles diagnoses in the state, bringing the total case count to five.
One of the cases was detected in Utah County, while the other is from the southwest health district, which serves Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver and Garfield counties, the department said in a news release. One of the new diagnosed patients is a minor and the other, an adult.
Like the previous three confirmed cases, the patients were unvaccinated. But, these additional patients were linked to previously diagnosed individuals rather than community exposure. Public health officials are conducting investigations to determine whether there are any additional cases in the state as national outbreaks keep on increasing.
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Two of the five cases are unvaccinated, pregnant Utahns. According to the department, individuals infected with measles during pregnancy are at high risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or giving birth to a child who will experience serious medical problems. Pregnant women are also “much more likely to be hospitalized because of severe measles.”
“The department recommends that if you are planning to become pregnant, get vaccinated before you get pregnant to protect yourself and your baby,” DHHS officials wrote in the release. “You can’t get the MMR vaccine while you are pregnant. If you get the MMR vaccine, wait at least 4 weeks after you get your shot before you try to get pregnant.”
As of Thursday morning, two of the Utah patients had been hospitalized due to complications from the virus but have since been released.
Measles early symptoms show up seven to 14 days after exposure and include fever higher than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit and a cough, runny nose or red eyes. A rash could appear four days after the fever starts. Health officials recommend that people experiencing these symptoms stay away from others and call health care providers before making a visit to avoid spreading the virus.
“The most effective prevention against the measles is vaccination. Public health officials in Utah want to reassure the community that immediate action is being taken to contain the situation,” according to the release. ” The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective against measles when the person gets 2 doses.”
