by I. Edwards
A rising measles outbreak alongside the Utah-Arizona border has unfold to close by communities, making it the nation’s second-largest this yr, well being officers confirmed.
At the very least 123 folks have been contaminated, most linked to 2 small cities—Colorado Metropolis, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah—the place residents usually transfer between the 2 communities.
Inside current weeks, circumstances have additionally appeared in close by Utah cities of Hurricane and St. George, after exposures in hospitals and pressing care clinics, based on the Southwest Utah Public Well being Division.
The outbreak has additionally reached Iron County, Utah, simply north of the unique epicenter.
Well being officers have lengthy warned that this area is susceptible to measles due to low childhood vaccination charges.
In Iron County, 82.4% of kids are vaccinated in opposition to measles.
In Washington County, that price drops to 79.2%, and in Mohave County, Arizona, it is 78.4%, far under the 95% threshold wanted for herd immunity.
“We were preparing for it,” Heaton stated. “It was a matter of time before it came here.”
Most circumstances to this point have occurred amongst unvaccinated school-aged kids, officers stated. Utah has reported six measles-related hospitalizations, 5 of that are tied to the present outbreak zone.
The world contains common vacationer locations like Zion Nationwide Park, elevating considerations about attainable publicity to guests.
In the course of the 2024–2025 faculty yr, 4.1% of kindergartners (about 138,000 kids) had exemptions from required vaccines, surpassing final yr’s document of three.7%. Practically all exemptions have been for non-medical causes, resembling non secular or private beliefs.
Regardless of the continued federal authorities shutdown, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) has continued to trace measles circumstances. As of Oct. 21, the CDC reported 1,618 infections throughout 42 states.
Extra data:
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has extra on measles.
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Measles outbreak spreads past Utah-Arizona border, 123 circumstances reported (2025, October 23)
retrieved 23 October 2025
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