- Multiple people at Utah's state wrestling championship were later diagnosed with measles, health officials say, and unvaccinated people who attended should watch for symptoms.
- Health officials urge vaccination and caution with possible exposures, noting mild cases may go unreported.
- Measles is currently spreading throughout the state, with extracurricular events leading to spread in new areas.
SALT LAKE CITY — Multiple people who attended last weekend's state wrestling championships were later confirmed to have measles, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.
There is concern for any participants at the state championships at Utah Valley University who were not vaccinated, said Amelia Salmanson, the department's preventable disease manager. She said health officials have been seeing measles cases in division 4A wrestling teams.
In addition to being reported from the state championships, measles transmissions are also being reported from areas throughout the state, particularly among students who are in school or doing extracurricular activities.
"We're seeing transmission throughout the state, and at this point people who are not vaccinated are at an increased risk of getting measles," she said.
The spread at the wrestling tournament came in the days after the Salt Lake County Health Department confirmed that a student contagious with the measles attended Highland High School for over a week, and the disease was "actively spreading" in the county.
Salmanson said Utah's outbreak, which began in June, has been relatively steady compared to other states where cases surged quickly. She said although health officials have seen increases following holidays and extracurricular activities, particularly where students travel and can introduce measles to other areas, she is anticipating cases will continue to hold steady.
"Unfortunately, we're starting to see transmission in areas that we haven't before, and so people who are not protected and unvaccinated, it may ... work its way through those people before we ... start to see a decline," she said.
The hospitalization rates in Utah for measles is roughly 12% of diagnosed cases, Salmanson said, but there have not been many severe cases. She said there have likely been more cases that weren't tested or reported because the symptoms were mild.
The state health department, she said, worked with the Utah High School Activities Association to send a letter to each of the participants at the wrestling championship. Local health departments are working more closely with schools and teams to prevent the spread of the disease.
People are contagious for about four days before they see the typical measles rash and until four days after that rash's onset, according to Salmanson. Some other symptoms can hint that someone has measles, but those look similar to cold and flu symptoms. She said since these symptoms can be common; it is difficult to recognize measles immediately, even though the person is contagious.
She also encouraged those who may have a risk of exposure to call ahead to a health care center before going inside in order to help prevent exposures.
"If people are unvaccinated, especially, and aware that they may have been exposed to someone (with) measles, either at this event or ... from family or friends ... that they try to stay home if they're not feeling well and kind of look out for any rash symptoms," she advised.
Salmanson said the MMR vaccine is "really effective," even with just one dose. Although health officials do see rare breakthrough cases, those are "a lot more mild" and "less transmissible." She recommends those who are not vaccinated speak with their medical provider or pharmacist about getting vaccinated.
"People who are unvaccinated are really the most vulnerable," Salmanson said.
For those with questions about their risk or exposure, Salamanson recommends reaching out to local health departments. The state health department has a list of exposure locations, which includes the state wrestling championships and a 4A division championship a few weeks earlier at Mountain View High School along with other schools, churches and health care facilities.
For those considering vaccination, Salmanson said the vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective, but it can be helpful within a few days. She said parents can consult with their pediatrician about an extra early dose for children between 6 months and 1 year of age or an early second dose for children who have already had their first dose but have not had their second dose, which is typically given between the ages of 4 and 6.
