Measles on Campus: Who’s Really Sick in Utah?
Salt Lake County health officials dropped another measles bomb this week. They confirmed a new case, prompting a frantic alert for exposure sites across the University of Utah campus. This isn’t news; it’s a broken record. The Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCHD) named the Marriott Library, Student Union, Jon M. Huntsman Center, and even the University Hospital Emergency Department as hotspots. Anyone caught there between March 29 and March 31, 2026, is now on watch. Dr. Angela Dunn, SLCHD Executive Director, predictably warned, “Measles is incredibly contagious.” She urged vaccination. We’ve heard it all before.The Cost of Stupidity
Let’s call it what it is: this outbreak is a direct consequence of Utah’s stubborn anti-vaccine cult. Utah’s kindergarten MMR vaccination rate limps at 90.5%. That’s below the 95% needed for herd immunity. It’s below the national average. Why are we surprised when highly contagious diseases run rampant? This isn’t about choice. It’s about collective negligence. One individual’s “freedom” to refuse a vaccine puts an entire community at risk. It’s particularly dangerous for the immunocompromised, infants, and pregnant women. Their health is sacrificed for someone else’s delusion.The University’s Shaky Response
The University of Utah, through an unnamed spokesperson, issued boilerplate assurances. “The health and safety of our campus community is our top priority.” Empty words. What specific actions are they taking beyond alerts? Are they mandating vaccinations for students living in dorms? Are they offering widespread, easily accessible vaccination clinics on campus? The university’s reputation is on the line. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It’s a health crisis, directly affecting thousands of students, faculty, and staff. Disruptions to campus life and potential long-term health consequences for the exposed are real.Who Pays the Price?
This measles case is not an isolated incident. It’s part of a larger, sickening trend. Utah has seen 559 measles cases since June 2025. That includes 362 this year alone. The last three weeks brought 142 new infections. The state’s 10.1% vaccine exemption rate for schoolchildren is a glaring failure. Each case costs public health agencies tens of thousands of dollars to investigate and contain. That’s taxpayer money. Money diverted from other essential services. Who benefits from this financial drain? Certainly not the average Utahn. This is the price of vaccine hesitancy. This is the price of ignoring science. This is the price of prioritizing fringe beliefs over public health.No More Excuses
The narrative that “measles is just a rash” is dangerous garbage. Over 120 people have been hospitalized, some in the ICU, during this extended outbreak. These are not minor sniffles. This is a serious, preventable disease. This latest exposure at the University of Utah is a stark, unavoidable reminder. Utah leadership, from Governor Spencer Cox on down, must act decisively. Close the vaccine exemption loopholes. Fund aggressive public health campaigns. Hold those spreading misinformation accountable. Anything less is an abdication of duty. Utah is sick. And it’s not just the measles.SOURCE: https://kutv.com/news/local/health-officials-flag-several-university-of-utah-areas-for-possible-measles-exposure-salt-lake-county-health-department-marriott-library-student-union-huntsman-center-hospital-emergency-department-vaccine-mmr
Photo: Photo by Dave Haygarth on Openverse (flickr) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/25633870@N00/3480352546)
Source: Google News
