Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — State health officials are hoping the recent measles outbreak will serve as an important reminder for people to "get vaccinated."
"We've had a lot of calls and a lot of hits to our website. People are checking in," said Becky Ward, a health educator with the Utah Department of Health. "A lot of it is the worried (people who are) well, just asking questions, but that’s OK."
Since notice went out Wednesday that two Utah County youths are infected with measles, no additional cases have been identified, Ward said. But the health department is following up with up to 200 people who might have come into contact with the infectious duo during the weeks before a rash was present and the infected individuals knew of their conditions.
"There has been no further spread. No other cases. And we hope it stays that way," Ward said.
Utah experienced its last bout with measles in 2011, when nine individuals in Salt Lake County and one in Cache County were confirmed to have the viral disease. After an infectious period of 28 days passed, officials declared the outbreak over, but Ward said there were thousands of people being watched for symptoms in that outbreak, as the contagious individuals had attended large events.
In all, 12,000 individuals were contacted in 2011, and 184 ended up on voluntary quarantine during that outbreak, according to the health department, which spent thousands of hours tracking the illness at that time.
If you were at one of the places these individuals were and you are not vaccinated and come down with symptoms, it could be measles. Often people feel good enough to be out and about, and that is what we don't want.
–Becky Ward, Utah Department of Health educator
Symptoms — including fever, runny nose and watery eyes — will appear 10-12 days after exposure, and a rash will occur about 14 days after exposure. A person may be contagious from four days before the rash occurs to four days after the rash occurs, Ward said, which is why public health officials are working to identify any potential cases as soon as possible.
"If you were at one of the places these individuals were and you are not vaccinated and come down with symptoms, it could be measles," she said. "Often people feel good enough to be out and about, and that is what we don't want."
The outbreak, Ward added, will only last as long as infectious cases exist, and cases contracted from this outbreak may not appear until next week or later.
"Spread is possible, and public health officials are trying to reduce that to zero if we can," she said.
People born before 1957 most likely have a natural immunity, as measles were common then. After that, however, and for the past more than 30 years, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been available and highly effective even with just one dose, though two are even more potent.
"Make sure you're vaccinated," Ward said. "Measles can kill, and it did before the vaccine came along. It can cause brain inflammation and seizures, among other things. It's a very serious disease, and this is a good reminder for people to get vaccinated.
"If you don't do it for yourself, do it for the people around you who are immunocompromised or can't get the vaccine for medical reasons," she said. "Pregnant women can't get the vaccine because it is a live virus vaccine, but the more vaccinated people around them, the more protected they are. There's always going to be somebody that is susceptible."
There have been no additional reports of confirmed measles cases throughout Utah, but anyone with questions can call 800-456-7707 or visit www.health.utah.gov/measles. A list of northern Utah County locations where the infected people visited is also online.
Video Contributing: Sam Penrod
