Two Utah County residents have tested positive for measles after returning from vacationing in California.
The two infected Utahns are linked to a larger outbreak that occurred at Disneyland between Dec. 15 and 20.
Rebecca Ward, an epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health, said measles is a major public health risk.
“Measles can be very serious. It is spread through respiratory droplets from a person coughing or sneezing. It can cause severe complications, especially in immunocompromised people, the very young and people with medical conditions. It can be very serious, causing inflammation to the lining of the brain and other things,” she said.
A major concern with the measles is how contagious it is. The virus can hang in the air for a number of hours and 90 percent of exposures lead to illness in those who are unvaccinated.
Ward said it is possible that the disease could be spread to anyone who has been in contact with either of these infected people, and finding and tracking these possible exposures is the main public health objective.
“We contact people who have had direct contact with the two infected individuals to make sure that they have either been vaccinated or can get vaccinated, or if it’s necessary, to quarantine people at home if they choose not to become vaccinated," she said.
Ward went on to say that getting fully vaccinated for measles is the best way to prevent contracting and spreading the disease.
For more information and a list of possible exposure sites visit the Utah Department of Health website.