A 3D graphic representation of a spherical-shaped, measles virus particle, that was studded with glycoprotein tubercles. Photo: Unsplash

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — The Summit County Health Department is urging residents to review their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms following a recent uptick in measles cases and community exposures in Summit County.

In a recent Public Health Advisory, health officials say the highly contagious virus can spread before symptoms appear and linger in the air for up to two hours, increasing the risk of transmission in public settings. People who are not immune to measles have a 90 percent chance of getting the disease if they are near an infected person.

The advisory focuses on prevention, symptom awareness, and limiting potential spread.

Measles symptoms and immunization

The Health Department advises that anyone experiencing symptoms, especially if they are unvaccinated or have been exposed to a known case, contact their healthcare provider remotely by phone or app before visiting a clinic, emergency room, or urgent care facility. On the call, the patient can describe their symptoms and receive next-step instructions.

Measles symptoms usually start 7 to 14 days after exposure and can include:

Cough
High fever
Runny nose
Red, watery eyes
Rash, beginning with flat, red spots on the face and spreading downward

Instructions on how to access immunization records can be found at https://immunize.utah.gov/usiis-parents-individuals.

“The MMR vaccine is highly effective in preventing measles and is widely available at local pharmacies, doctor offices, or Summit County Health immunization clinics,” reads the advisory. “Two doses of MMR vaccine prevent more than 97 percent of measles infections. In the remaining 3 percent of circumstances when a fully vaccinated person catches measles, symptoms are milder, the illness is shorter, and the individual is less likely to spread the disease.”

For updates and information about measles, visit https://epi.utah.gov/measles-response.

A list of exposure locations in Summit County can be found at https://epi.utah.gov/measles-response.