I have some good news about the measles outbreak in Utah - the longest-running measles outbreak in the United States in 35 years!
I bet that you’re ready for some good news right about now, especially after the recent report of two more children dying because they were sick with measles.
Good News About the Measles Outbreak in Utah
So the good news is that it has been some time since a new case was reported in this outbreak that started in June 2025.
The good news is that no Utah residents have been diagnosed with measles in the past three weeks!
In fact, it’s been more than 3 weeks.
It was at the end of July that someone in Utah was diagnosed with measles.
So doesn’t that mean that this outbreak is over?
Bad News About the Measles Outbreak in Utah
Well, I guess technically they could declare the outbreak over any day now…
But here comes the bad news.
Wild measles virus is still being detected in the most recent samples of wastewater in several parts of the state.
Is this normal, residual shedding in people who had been previously diagnosed and have recovered, or are these new cases that haven’t been found?
It seems like a very long time for residual shedding…
What’s next?
We will see if they will declare the outbreak over soon - once it has been 42 days (two incubation periods) since the last case, or if they will wait until their wastewater is also clear.
Clean water is good, and getting measles from it would seriously suck.