Utah Becomes Unfortuante Measles Leader

With South Carolina's measles outbreak now under control and no new cases reported recently, Utah has become the state with the highest active transmission of the disease in the country.

As of April 10, 2026, state health officials have confirmed 24 new cases in the past five days, bringing Utah's total outbreak count to 583.

Of these, 386 cases have been recorded this year, including 121 in the last three weeks alone. So far, 47 people have been hospitalized due to the outbreak.

The Southwest Health Area accounts for the largest share of cases, with 249 reported.

In the urban areas, Utah County follows with 93 cases, and Salt Lake County has reported 62 cases.

Local health authorities are reminding residents that measles is extremely contagious and can lead to serious complications, particularly among young children, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.

While most of these measles cases have been reported in unvaccinated people, MMR vaccination coverage among Utah kindergartners was about 88% during the 2024–2025 school year.

Utah continues to urge families to ensure that they are up to date on the MMR vaccine, which remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of this disease.