Child with measles on the head and neck
Table of Contents

Measles in Utah: What You Need to Know Right Now

12/10/2025

At a Glance

  • Utah health officials have confirmed 115 measles cases this year, including a recent infection linked to the Kopper Kids daycare at Bingham High School in South Jordan.
  • Measles is extraordinarily contagious and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves.
  • Early symptoms often look like a typical viral illness: fever, cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes. A rash usually appears a few days later.
  • The MMR vaccine is the most reliable way to protect children. Two doses work extremely well for most people.
  • If your child may have been exposed or is developing symptoms, it helps to know what to watch for and when to call your doctor.

Measles in Utah: What Parents Should Know

Measles has resurfaced in several parts of Utah this season. With a confirmed case connected to a child-care setting at Bingham High School, many families are asking good questions about symptoms, exposure, and safety. Most parents have never seen measles in person, so it can be hard to tell what is worth worrying about and what is not.

Below is a clear and practical overview to help you get your bearings.

What Measles Is and How It Spreads

Measles is a virus that moves through the air when someone coughs, talks, or breathes. The virus can remain suspended for a short time, allowing a person to become infected even without close contact.

People are contagious from four days before the rash begins to four days after the rash onset. The incubation period (the time between exposure and the onset of symptoms) is 7-21 days. The first symptom is usually fever.

Symptoms: What to Look For

Typical measles signs include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Nasal congestion or a runny nose
  • Red or watery eyes and photophobia (pain with bright light)
  • A rash that starts on the head and hairline and spreads down the body usually begins about four days after the initial symptoms.

The rash and fever together, especially in the middle of an outbreak, should prompt you to call your health care provider.

Why Vaccination Matters

The MMR vaccine offers strong and lasting protection. Two doses are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles. Even when vaccinated people are exposed, the illness tends to be milder if it occurs at all. Families sometimes worry about timing or spacing of doses, so if you have questions about your child’s immunization record, your clinician or clinic can walk you through it.

What to Do if Your Child Was Exposed

If you know or suspect your child was exposed, reach out to your provider for guidance. In many cases the next steps depend on vaccination status. Children who have received both MMR doses are generally at low risk and usually only need monitoring for symptoms. Children who are not fully vaccinated and have confirmed exposure need to quarantine for 21 days. If you are unsure of what to do, please call your pediatrician for further guidance.

Children and adults who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after exposure.

It is also helpful to keep an eye on your child for about three weeks after exposure, since symptoms can take that long to appear.

What to Do if Your Child Has Symptoms

If your child has a fever followed by a rash, or the combination of fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, call your provider before coming in. Clinics often have special procedures during measles activity to keep other patients safe. Staff can tell you how and where to arrive so your child can be seen without delay.

Caring for a Sick Child at Home

If your child is being monitored at home, focus on rest, fluids, and fever management. Keep them away from siblings or visitors who might not be fully vaccinated, especially infants or people with weakened immune systems. Call your clinic if symptoms worsen, if your child seems unusually tired or confused, or if you notice signs of dehydration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How contagious is measles?

Very. The virus spreads through the air and can infect people who enter a room shortly after an infected person has left.

It is possible but uncommon. When it does occur, it is usually milder.

Most children develop symptoms within 10 to 14 days, although the window is about 7 to 21 days.

Yes. It has been used for decades, and serious side effects are rare.

Seek immediate help if your child has trouble breathing, signs of dehydration, severe lethargy, or symptoms that rapidly worsen.