Utah marks a year of battling measles, with no clear end in sight

June 20, 2026 - 18:03

More than 680 people have fallen ill since Utah's first measles outbreak began on June 20, 2025. A full year later, state health officials say the battle is far from over. The outbreak, which started in a small cluster of unvaccinated individuals in Salt Lake County, has since spread to at least 12 counties, straining local hospitals and public health resources.

Dr. Emily Torres, the state epidemiologist, described the situation as "a marathon with no finish line in sight." She noted that while vaccination rates have increased slightly in affected areas, pockets of low immunity continue to fuel new cases. The majority of patients are children under five, many of whom were not vaccinated due to personal belief exemptions. Fourteen people have been hospitalized, including three infants too young for the vaccine.

Health workers have conducted over 40,000 contact tracing calls and administered more than 15,000 emergency vaccine doses. But the virus keeps finding new hosts. In the past month alone, 45 new cases were reported, mostly in rural communities where access to healthcare is limited.

The state legislature has debated tightening vaccine exemption laws, but no bill has passed. Meanwhile, parents in hard-hit areas are keeping kids home from school, and some businesses have reported staffing shortages as employees fall sick or stay home to care for family members.

"We are tired," said nurse practitioner Carla Mendez, who works at a community clinic in Provo. "But we cannot stop. Measles does not take a break, and neither can we." With no federal emergency declaration and limited state funding, Utah's health department is now asking for volunteers to help with vaccination clinics.