SALT LAKE CITY — Two new cases of measles have been diagnosed in Utah, just days after the first case in the state was announced last week.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services says the two additional patients are unvaccinated and not linked to each other or the person diagnosed on Friday.
One of the patients is a resident of Utah County, while the other is from southwestern Utah. Health department investigators are currently trying to pinpoint any locations the new patients may have recently visited and increased the measles exposure.
"Certainly, we are concerned that this does suggest there's additional spread in Utah,” said Utah State Epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen. “We know one of the cases did travel outside of the state, so they might have been exposed outside of the state. But still, it does concern us.”
The cases come during the ongoing measles outbreak, in which there are now over 1,200 reported cases across the country.
According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, over 90 percent of state residents have been vaccinated against measles, meaning they are "highly protected" against the disease, officials said.
"This is a routine vaccine that we have all gotten. I certainly got it when I was a little kid. We've gotten it since the 1970s,” added Dr. Nolen.
But not everyone can be vaccinated. The first dose is recommended for babies when they are about one year old, and then the second dose between 4 and 6 years.
Julissa Breslin has three kids — a 4-year-old and 1-and-a-half-year-old twins. So for parents with little ones like her, there’s fear.
"It is worrisome what’s going on right now,” said Breslin. “I’m hopeful that because they are vaccinated, they will be protected and they will be okay. In a perfect world, yes, I would like every kid that goes to school with them or is near them to be vaccinated.”
Measles symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms include high fever (102.20° or higher), cough, runny nose, or red eyes, with a rash usually appearing after four days of fever. Dr. Nolen said measles is highly contagious and kids are susceptible to the virus.
"The thought of another outbreak out there that would mainly affect our kids, not just the older population as a whole, especially kids and babies, it’s scary, and I think it needs to be taken seriously,” added Breslin.
You can track cases on Utah's Health & Human Services website HERE.
