Measles detected in Provo area wastewater, officials remind residents to take precautions

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Measles has been detected in wastewater in the Provo Area, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) confirmed. Officials are reminding residents to make sure that they are up to date on immunizations.

While these results are not a surprise to public health officials, it does confirm that measles is circulating in Utah County and that taking precautions is necessary. DHHS reiterated that the best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine.

Currently, nine Utah residents have been confirmed to have measles, and seven of those cases were in Utah County.

“Wastewater sampling is a new and useful tool for public health,” Dr. Leisha Nolen, state epidemiologist at DHHS is quoted in a press release. “In this case, we know someone had measles in the Provo area around the time the sample was taken. It’s possible these wastewater results simply reflect that person.”

The data was reported by WastewaterSCAN, a program based at Stanford University that monitors infectious diseases in wastewater systems across the country. DHHS is also working to set up wastewater monitoring sites across the state to check for measles, but it’s not fully functional yet.

Dr. Nolen also explained that wastewater data is most useful to detect diseases in areas where no cases have been identified. “When that happens, we will be able to use the data to alert clinicians in those areas to make sure they are aware someone with measles may come in for care.” 

What is wastewater monitoring?

According to Nathan LaCross, the manager of the DHHS Utah Wastewater Surveillance system, when people get sick with the measles, they can shed the virus in their feces or urine. The virus then goes into wastewater or sewer systems, and it can be detected for days to weeks in wastewater samples.

That can help DHHS identify communities where people are infected with measles, sometimes even before DHHS knows anyone is sick.

Samples are collected at the water treatment plant, and so it can’t be used to identify a specific person. It also cannot be traced back to households or individuals.

Getting vaccinated

According to DHHS, 90% of Utahns are vaccinated against measles. DHHS is urging those who are not vaccinated to get the MMR vaccine. Utah State Epidemiologist Leisha Nolan says that the most effective prevention against the measles is vaccination.

One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, while two doses are 97% effective, according to the CDC. The CDC says that although some vaccinated people may still get measles, mumps, or rubella if exposed to the viruses, their symptoms will generally be milder, and they will be less likely to spread the disease.

As of July 1, 2025, a total of 1,267 confirmed measles cases were reported by 37 jurisdictions in the United States, according to the latest information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to a study conducted by the DHHS, immunization rates with specific vaccines have decreased amongst kindergarteners throughout Utah since 2014. Amelia Salmanson, a measles epidemiologist with the DHHS, told ABC4.com that anyone who is exhibiting measles symptoms or is sick should do their best to “stay home and away from others”. They can also call ahead when seeking care so clinics can prevent spread in their waiting rooms.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily through the air through coughing and sneezing. The CDC said those infected won’t see symptoms appear until about a week after infection, and common symptoms include high fever, cough, and a rash.

Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin.

Measles can cause serious health complications, especially for those who are not protected through the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.

Measles in Utah

Utah has largely been spared from measles cases in the last 10 years. There have only been five confirmed cases since 2015, including three in 2017. However, Utah has had a couple of scares in recent weeks after a passenger with measles traveled through the Salt Lake.

While the national definition considers three or more cases as an outbreak, Utah defines an outbreak as one or more case. However, since most cases have been isolated within individual households, the DHHS is using the term ‘Cluster’.

Amelia Salmanson notes that the organization has been preparing for measles in Utah for at least a year and have been working to reduce measles transmission outside of the identified households.

“We’ve been working really closely with our local health departments and our clinical partners to develop plans and processes to ensure that the transmission of measles stays ideally within kind of that immediate group,” Amelia Salmanson, DHHS measles epidemiologist

According to Salmanson, all of the individuals with measles are in stable condition, including the two pregnant women and one minor.