'Great news': Measles spread slows in Utah

Key Points:

• Utah's measles outbreak, which infected over 700 people since June 2025, appears to be winding down with only six new cases reported in the last three weeks, a significant decrease from the peak of 58 weekly cases in March.
• The outbreak affected all local health departments in Utah, hitting southwestern Utah hardest, with most cases occurring in school-aged children and 86% of infected individuals being unvaccinated.
• The Utah Department of Health emphasizes the importance of the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective with two doses, and notes that 27,000 more Utahns were vaccinated this year compared to last year, helping reduce the spread.
• While the current decline is attributed to vaccinations, natural immunity, and summer school closures, health officials remain cautious about potential case increases when schools reopen and continue to encourage vaccination.
• During the outbreak, 56 people were hospitalized primarily due to severe symptoms, but no deaths occurred; experts warn that measles can weaken immune memory, potentially leading to more severe illnesses in the future and rare, delayed brain inflammation cases.