SAN JUAN COUNTY — The San Juan Public Health Department announced the first measles cases in San Juan County residents on Wednesday.
The health department said the three infected people are residents of San Juan County but were exposed to the virus outside of the county and reportedly have not returned.
"As a result, there is no transmission risk to San Juan County residents," the department said in a news release.
The San Juan Public Health Department said there are still no confirmed measles among residents who physically live within the county.
However, the three infections will count as San Juan County cases, as per standard practice, health department officials said in the release.
According to its latest dashboard update on Tuesday, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said the state has reached a total of 251 cases in the current outbreak. 48 of which have been confirmed in the past three weeks.
The San Juan Public Health Department said that while the three infections present a "very limited risk" to its community, its health officials still urge residents to speak with their health provider about the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine.
Health officials believe vaccination is the best way to prevent a measles infection with two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is said to provide the strongest protection against the virus.
"We continue to monitor the spread of measles in the surrounding area and will provide any updates on cases," the department said in a statement.
