It’s difficult to determine unofficial case numbers if infected people don’t seek help, health officials say.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) An example of a measles virus.
Utah health officials have now reported 31 cases of measles statewide, nearly triple the number reported in July — but officials say the official tally likely doesn’t account for everyone who has contracted the virus statewide.
Cases have been confirmed in three of the state’s local health districts, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. However, wastewater testing indicates measles has likely spread to more parts of the state.
Of the 31 official cases of measles in Utah, seven were reported in Utah County, three in Southeast Utah (encompassing Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties) and 21 in Southwest Utah (Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington counties.)
Within the past month, two of those districts — Utah County and Southwest Utah — have seen measles in their wastewater. Also, measles was found in the wastewater in five other local health districts:
(Utah Department of Health and Human Services) This map shows where measles has been found in wastewater in Utah in recent tests.
In the most recent wastewater sample, taken Sep. 9, Summit County and Southwest Utah have seen the virus.
The Central Utah and San Juan County districts have not had their wastewater tested, according to the health department.
Though it’s difficult to estimate how many more people may have been infected, the state’s epidemiologist, Dr. Leisha Nolen, said the wastewater results suggest people should be aware that measles could be found in different areas of the state.
Four of the people with verified cases were exposed at a Utah High School Cycling League event at Soldier Hollow on Aug. 16, the state’s health department said. A fifth infected person also attended that event, the state said.
Symptom watches are underway for people who visited three different locations in the last month: Water Canyon High School, where the last known exposure was Sept. 3; Hurricane Peach Days, where the last known exposure was Aug. 30; and a second Utah High School Cycling League race in Cedar City, where the last exposure was Aug. 30.
The Cedar City event covered the same region of the cycling league as the one that hosted the Soldier Hollow event where people were exposed.
The best way to prevent measles, according to Utah’s health department, is to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which the department says is 97% effective in people who receive two doses. Most Utahns are protected by the vaccine, the department said.
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