The following email was sent to the parents/guardians of all Uintah School District students on March 2, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. District staff received a similar email from Uintah School Superintendent Dr. Rick Woodford at the same time on the same date.
The TriCounty Health Department has notified the Uintah School District that two (2) students at Uintah High School have tested positive for measles. The students were present at Uintah High from Feb. 23 to Feb. 27.
The district is not aware of any confirmed cases in any other Uintah School District schools currently; however, the cases at Uintah High show that measles is present in our community.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily through the air. When a person who is ill with measles talks, coughs, or sneezes, the virus is expelled into the air and can then be breathed in by others. Measles can live in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
The incubation period for measles ranges from 7 to 21 days. It typically begins with cold symptoms lasting 3 to 5 days like:
Cough
Fever
Runny nose
Red and water eyes
A few days later, a rash starts at the hairline and then spreads to the face, body, and arms. The rash typically lasts 5 to 6 days.
While measles is generally a mild disease in healthy individuals, some people who get it may have more severe symptoms and may be at higher risk for complications. It can be serious during pregnancy, in infants under six months old, and people with weakened immune systems.
For Unvaccinated Students
According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, if your child has not received at least one MMR vaccine dose (or does not have confirmed immunity to measles), they should stay home from school for 21 or more days if a measles case is reported at school. This applies even if your child wasn't in direct contact with the infected person, because measles spreads through the air.
The state health department notes that the 21-day period starts from the last day the infected person was at school while contagious. This helps protect unvaccinated students from further exposure. If you choose to follow the health department’s recommendation and keep your child home for 21 days or more, please contact your child’s school to discuss virtual learning options.
The state health department recommends vaccination as the best way to protect your child. Children who have never had measles or been vaccinated should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine. Most vaccinated individuals will not get measles.
For Vaccinated Students
Students who have had both doses of the MMR vaccine can continue to attend school. Students who have least one (1) dose of the MMR vaccine can go to school as normal but should get the second dose of the MMR vaccine as long as it has been at least 28 days since the first dose.
If you do not know how many MMR doses your child has received, you can:
Call your child’s healthcare provider,
Check the Docket web or mobile app, or
Call TriCounty Health Department at 435-247-1177
TriCounty Health Department encourages you to:
Watch for signs or symptoms of measles in your student. If you or anyone in your family develops symptoms like rash and fever, contact a healthcare provider or TriCounty Health Department right away. They may give you special instructions for testing so that others are not exposed.
Get the MMR vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children get two doses of vaccine, the first at 12-15 months old and the second at 4-6 years old. Older children and adults who have not received the vaccine can be vaccinated at any age, so it’s not too late to get vaccinated.
Practice good health hygiene. Healthy behaviors such as covering your cough or sneeze, washing your hands often, and staying home when you do not feel well are all effective ways of preventing any illness from further spreading.
The Uintah School District and TriCounty Health Department will continue to monitor your student’s school for additional cases to determine if other preventive measures need to be put in place.
Please contact TriCounty Health Department at 435-247-1177 if you have questions about measles or would like to make an appointment for a vaccination. For more information about measles, visit: https://epi.utah.gov/measles-response/.
Thank you for your help to protect the health of our students, staff, and community.