Make sure you’re up-to-date on immunizations
Salt Lake City—Following the recent measles outbreak and death of a child in Texas, public health officials in Utah are encouraging the public to talk to a healthcare provider about protecting themselves against the disease.
The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is 97% effective against measles when 2 doses are given. It is very rare for someone to get measles if they are vaccinated.
“The current MMR vaccine has been used since the early 1970s and has saved millions of lives—and prevented significant suffering—around the globe,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. “The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and Utahns are encouraged to protect their families by getting the recommended vaccine. If you have questions about vaccination, talk to a healthcare provider.”
Measles is an illness that spreads very easily from one person to another. It can cause serious health problems, especially for babies and young children. Measles is so contagious that 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with the virus will get sick if they are not protected.
Public health officials in Utah encourage everyone to check their immunization records or talk to a healthcare provider to see whether they are protected from measles. To learn how to request your immunization record, visit https://immunize.utah.gov/usiis-parents-individuals/. You can also check your immunization records in the Docket app or website.
It can take 1 to 3 weeks to show symptoms of measles after you have been infected with the virus. Measles usually starts with symptoms that seem like a cold or allergies (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, red or watery eyes), followed by a rash that spreads all over your body. People can also get tiny white spots that appear inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek (Koplik’s spots). A rash with small red spots generally begins 3-5 days after other signs of the illness starts. The rash typically starts at the face and then spreads down the rest of the body.
A person who has measles can spread the illness to others even before they have symptoms. Most people will have mild illnesses like fever, rash, diarrhea, or ear infection. Measles can also cause pneumonia, encephalitis (brain infection), seizures, and even death. Young children, pregnant women, and people who have weakened immune systems are especially at risk of severe complications from measles.
If you learn you’ve been around someone with measles or think you have measles, call a healthcare provider right away. Tell them you’ve been exposed to measles so they can make special arrangements to see you without putting other people in their office at risk.
For more information, visit https://epi.utah.gov/measles/.