SALT LAKE CITY — Days after the first death connected to a measles outbreak in Texas was reported, health officials in Utah are urging residents to protect themselves and their families against the disease.
The school-aged child who was not vaccinated was the first to die of measles in the U.S. since 2015. Over 120 cases of measles were reported in Texas this week, more than double the previous week.
In a message Friday, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said everyone should talk to a healthcare provider to protect themselves from measles, adding that the MMR vaccine is 97% effective when two doses are given.
"It is very rare for someone to get measles if they are vaccinated," the department shared.
The Salt Lake County Health Department warned that measles is one of the world's most contagious viruses. It spreads easily from person to person, although symptoms can take up to three weeks to appear.
According to health officials, 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with the virus will get sick if they are not protected.
“Ensuring now that you and your loved ones are adequately protected will help prevent serious illness in our community if this current multistate measles outbreak spreads to Utah,” said Dorothy Adams, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department.
Measles vaccine recommendations:
- Children should receive two doses of measles vaccine: one dose at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years.
- Adults born before 1957 generally do not need to be vaccinated because they are likely already immune to measles due to widespread infection and illness before the measles vaccine became available in 1963.
- Adults who were vaccinated before 1968 should have a second dose because the vaccine used from 1963–1967 was less effective than the current vaccine, which became available in 1968.
- Adults who were vaccinated in 1968 or later are considered fully protected whether they have one or two doses, though certain higher risk groups (college students, healthcare workers, international travelers) should have two doses.
