The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said that the state now has 486 confirmed cases of measles. The Southwest Utah Health District has the bulk of the cases, with 233; Utah County has 78 and Salt Lake County has 53.
In Cedar City, multiple locations were exposed to measles.
- Township Pharmacy (108 W 1325 N., Cedar City, UT 84721) on March 3 from 2:10- 4:30 p.m.
- Cedar Ridge Family Medicine (9110 W. 1325 N. #200, Cedar City, UT 84721) on March 3 from 1- 5 p.m.
- Cedar City Hospital (1303 N. Main St., Cedar City, UT 84721) on March 4 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., March 14 or March 15 from 11:15 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Bristlecone Coffee Shop (67 W. Center Street, Cedar City, UT 84720) on March 9, 10 or 11 from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Natural Grocers (893 S Main Street, Cedar City, UT 84720) on March 12.
- On the Farm Childcare (5140 W. 100 S., Cedar City, UT 84720) on March 10, 11 or 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Western Outlaw Beauty (903 N. Main Street, Suite A, Cedar City, UT 84721) on March 13 from noon to 4:00 p.m.
- Cedar City InstaCare (962 Sage Drive, Cedar City, UT 84721) on March 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
- Walmart (1330 S. Providence Center Drive, Cedar City, UT 84720) on March 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Smith’s Marketplace (633 S. Main Street, Cedar City, UT 84720) on March 17 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If you were in any of these locations during the listed times, the DHHS recommends looking for measles symptoms for at least three weeks after the exposure date.
“It is the time to go and check what your vaccine status is, what your kid’s vaccine status is, and make sure everybody has the right vaccine, so you don’t have to worry about this,” said Dr. Leisha Nolen, the state epidemiologist. “There’s a great way to prevent it, you can take it, it’s a good, safe, effective way to not have measles get into your family.”
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air and can remain on surfaces for up to two hours. It can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, a distinct rash that starts spreading from the face downward and small, white spots can be found in the mouth. Symptoms usually appear 10-14 days after exposure.
The DHHS highly recommends vaccination, especially for babies and children; stay away from others if exhibiting symptoms and call ahead when seeking care so that it doesn’t spread to those in the waiting rooms.
Author: Lainey Porter
Photo courtesy of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Editor: Hannah Clove
news@suunews.net