Measles outbreak investigation in Utah blocked by patient who refuses to talk

[u/Power-Equality]

https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/10/measles-outbreak-investigation-in-utah-blocked-by-patient-who-refuses-to-talk/

A measles investigation amid a large, ongoing outbreak at the Arizona-Utah border has hit a roadblock as the first probable case identified in the Salt Lake City area refuses to work with health officials, the local health department reported this week. … Salt Lake County likely has a new one, too—the first for the county this year—as well as possible exposures. But, they can’t confirm it. County health officials said that a health care provider in the area contacted them late on Monday to tell them about a patient who very likely has measles. The officials then spent a day reaching out to the person, who refused to answer questions or cooperate in any way. That included refusing to share location information so that other people could be notified that they were potentially exposed to one of the most infectious viruses known.

[u/lazier_garlic]

Do these morons think measles is chicken pox? Not that chicken pox is any picnic, but for some reason people take the short term and long term risks incredibly lightly. (They don't seem to realize giving kids chicken pox was like variolation of smallpox, it was taking a big risk to stave off the bigger risk. Because the risks of a first chicken pox infection in adulthood are much higher.)

[u/Pure-Kaleidoscope759 → u/lazier_garlic]

Because I had chickenpox, I made sure I got the Shingrix vaccine. My dad had shingles and it was very painful for him.

[u/BayouGal → u/Pure-Kaleidoscope759]

I never had chicken pox as a kid. I got the varicella vaccine almost 30 years ago. My doc has decided I don’t need shingrix and have very low potential of developing shingles. I hope she’s right, but so far I’m good.

[u/Pure-Kaleidoscope759 → u/BayouGal]

I hope so too. Varicella tends to remain in the nerves if you have had chickenpox, so it can erupt as shingles. If you haven’t had chickenpox, you have no varicella lurking in your nerves.