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- Utah health officials didn't notify the public about a measles case last month due to low risk to the community.
- The individual was vaccinated, reducing transmission risk, and didn't stay in Utah while traveling.
- Officials contacted exposed passengers and emphasized checking vaccination status before summer travel.
SALT LAKE CITY — Health officials in Utah opted not to notify the public about a measles case that entered the state last month, citing low risk and prior vaccination.
The case first came into public light Monday afternoon, during a Summit County Board of Health meeting. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the individual was vaccinated, significantly reducing the risk of transmission.
"This individual had previously been vaccinated and posed a low risk of infection to others," DHHS said in a statement Tuesday.
May 19 and May 23
On May 19, an international traveler flew from Canada to Salt Lake City and rented a car to drive to southern Idaho. Utah health officials emphasized that the person did not make any stops in Utah before leaving the state.
During the stay in Idaho, the individual became symptomatic and was diagnosed with measles, and all exposure concerns were in Idaho, according to DHHS. A few days later, the individual returned to Utah.
"On May 23, that same individual came back to Salt Lake, again didn't make any stops but did get on board an airplane while symptomatic," said Derek Moss, Summit County nursing director.
Public health response
The state health department explained that the individual had been cleared by public health to fly, as they were deemed to have passed their infectious period before boarding.
Salt Lake County health officials contacted passengers from the flight and provided resources to prevent infection, and at this point, no additional measles infections have been reported among exposed passengers. Health officials continue to monitor those who may have been exposed.
"State and local health officials are staying in touch with those individuals, and none of them has developed a measles infection. The typical incubation period is one to three weeks," reads a statement from the health department.
Clarifications
The statement also addressed several points of misinformation after information about the case became public during the Summit County Board of Health meeting:
- The traveler was never placed on a "do not board" list, contrary to some reports, as they were past their infectious period by the time of their flight.
- While one of the vaccines they received is not approved in the U.S., health officials emphasized that any dose of an MMR vaccine significantly decreases the risk of spreading measles.
When asked about its decision to withhold a public advisory, Utah health officials provided the following explanation:
"Public health officials weigh many factors when we decide whether to notify the public about a situation. In low-risk situations, when we are able to address the issue in a more focused and isolated manner, broad public messaging is not always warranted. Additional information would be released if the situation changes or more data suggests an increased risk."
Measles prevention
Despite the limited risk in this incident, measles remains highly contagious. Due to increasing cases across North and South America, health officials urge Utah residents to verify their vaccination status before traveling this summer.
"We encourage Utahns to talk to a pharmacist or healthcare provider to verify their vaccination status prior to summer travel," the statement says.
The MMR vaccine remains one of the most effective measures against measles and is recommended for anyone planning to travel in regions experiencing outbreaks.
