2025–2026 Respiratory Season Update
Welcome to Between 2 Graphs!
Happy Valentine’s Day! May we all spread love and not germs, and hope that we keep getting snow!
Current Overview:
Influenza (Flu): Flu activity has recently begun to decline in Summit County, across Utah, and nationally. However, wastewater surveillance in the U.S. continues to show high concentrations of influenza A and low concentrations of influenza B. The primary strain circulating is influenza A (H3N2) subclade K. Current data indicate that this year’s flu vaccine is providing 30–40% protection against hospitalization, offering meaningful defense—especially for those at higher risk of severe illness. If you haven’t received your flu shot yet, now is a great time to get vaccinated. It remains one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and our community.
RSV: RSV activity is staying fairly steady (and low) in Summit County. In Utah, RSV looks to be increasing slightly, so keep an eye out for any symptoms in your little ones.
COVID-19: COVID-19 wastewater levels in Summit County are low or in the watch category, as with the majority of the rest of sites in Utah.
Measles: Measles cases in Utah have continued to rise over the past several months, with little indication of slowing. Utah has the 4th-highest case count in the U.S. and the 2nd highest number of new cases in the past 2 weeks. Summit County reported it’s first measles case on January 10th. For the full rundown on Measles, check out the local update on the Measles tab
Check out the graphs below for more information on flu, RSV, and COVID in Summit County. As always, my goal is to make local trends easy to follow and help you make informed decisions for yourself and your family.
If you haven’t already, now’s a great time to:
To schedule a time to get a Flu or COVID shot, please call any of our health department locations:
| Park City: | 435-333-1500 |
| Kamas: | 435-783-3161 |
| Coalville: | 435-336-3234 |
Seasonal Respiratory Disease Graphs
COVID-19 Wastewater Concentrations
Laboratory testing for COVID-19 has greatly decreased since the 2020-2021 season. Due to low testing numbers, case counts appear to be very low for COVID-19. However, we can look at COVID-19 concentration levels in the wastewater to better understand the amount of COVID-19 circulating in our community.
Individuals with covid can shed the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their feces, even if they don't have symptoms. The virus can then be detected in wastewater, enabling wastewater surveillance to capture the presence of SARS-CoV-2 shed by people with and without symptoms. This allows wastewater surveillance to serve as an early warning that COVID-19 is spreading in a community.
Reading the Graphs:
The graphs below show the amount COVID-19 detected in the wastewater (displayed as Millions of gene copies, per person, per day) as well as the daily case rate (displayed as the number of new cases each day per 100,000 people) for the past year. The color bar in-between the wastewater and case rate graphs categorizes the concentration level of COVID-19 detected in the wastewater.
Click here for more information regarding COVID-19 Wastewater monitoring, including monitoring results for additional sites in Utah.
Wastewater graphs display annual data up to: February 5, 2026
Wastewater graphs: Utah Wastewater Surveillance System
↑ 0 Since last week
↑ 21 in past week
↑ 146 in past week
Summit County Measles Activity:
Summit County reported its first confirmed measles case nearly a month ago and has had no additional cases since then. The time period in which we would expect to see secondary cases from that exposure has now passed without further spread. This is excellent news and reflects the swift, coordinated response of the South Summit School District, affected families, and public health partners. Your cooperation and collaboration were critical in preventing this highly contagious disease from spreading further in our community.
We did have a positive wastewater detection in the Snyderville Basin's East Canyon on January 15th, but no new subsequent positive samples since them.
Measles can be especially challenging because people are infectious before they even feel sick—typically about four days before the rash appears. That means someone can spread the virus without realizing they are ill. By quickly identifying exposures and people who may be at risk, we can work together to limit transmission and protect others.
This does not mean the risk of measles in Summit County is over—this was simply our first local experience with it. If you think you may have been exposed to measles or are experiencing symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider for guidance right away.
With the ski season (finally) here, it's important to make healthy choices for yourself and your family. If you or your family members aren’t vaccinated against measles, now’s a good time to think about getting the MMR shot. It’s the best protection we have and does a great job at preventing illness and stopping the spread.
A quick reminder about how contagious measles really is: people who aren’t immune have about a 90% chance of getting sick if they’re around someone who’s infected. And here’s the sneaky part—people with measles can spread it before they even know they’re sick. The virus can also hang around in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has been in a room. In short: measles is really good at spreading, but the MMR vaccine is even better at stopping it. Stay safe out there!
Since the middle of 2025 Utah has reported a total of 272 confirmed measles cases. Recently, the number of new cases coming out of the Southwest Health District was slowing down a bit, but in the past week or so have reported 15 new cases, for a total of 178 cases. However, we are starting to see a slight increase in cases being reported in Salt Lake County, with 2 new cases reported in the past week for a total of 26 cases. (New exposure locations have been updated on the UDHHS website.)[https://epi.utah.gov/measles-response/] Additionally, San Juan County reported their first cases this week, however, these are not active cases in the county, these cases are currently in Texas. *(see note below)
Of the 272 cases in Utah, 61% are among children under 18, 88% of cases have been unvaccinated, and 9% of cases have needed to be hospitalized.
*A note about how reportable diseases are counted: Regardless of where someone is tested or where they are staying at the time of illness, the official case is reported to the county and state where that person is a permanent resident. Health departments share information across jurisdictions, so exposure locations and relevant details are communicated appropriately between counties and states. This reporting structure can sometimes create confusion—particularly with diseases like measles—or make it harder to estimate the current burden of respiratory illnesses in places like Summit County that have many visitors, seasonal workers, and second-home owners. Because local case counts reflect only our residents, they don’t capture illness among people who are temporarily here. This is one reason why wastewater surveillance is such a valuable tool for tracking diseases like flu, COVID-19, and even measles. Importantly, if someone is in Summit County while infectious, we coordinate closely with other health districts to ensure we have the right information and can take appropriate steps to protect people in our community.*
Summit County public exposures will be listed here:
For exposures in other parts of Utah please check the state’s website for the most up-to-date exposure locations. There have been quite a few new exposures listed last week for Salt Lake County, including Primary Children’s Hospital Emergency Department on Jan. 28, Families First Pediatrics on Jan. 27, Herriman High School on Jan. 23 & Jan 26, Westridge Health Center on Jan. 26, Robert Frost Elementary on Jan. 26, and Daycare Small World West Valley on Jan. 26. Please check out the UDHHS exposure site for more information if you think you may have been at these locations on these days. The last day of symptom watch for these locations ends February 16 and 18th.
If you were at a location during the times listed, monitor yourself for measles-like symptoms. Use the link below to complete a short survey for guidance on your potential risk and recommended next steps. The survey is available in both English and Spanish. UDHHS measles exposure survey
Measles Activity in Neighboring States:
National Measles Update:
Overall, 45 states have reported measles cases since the start of the outbreak in 2025, with a total of 3,072 cases. South Carolina has reported a total of 923 measles cases, with 220 new cases in the past 2 weeks. They are currently dealing with an outbreak in the upstate region around Spartanburg County. This outbreak is huge and has not slowed down.
Canada has officially lost its “Measles Elimination” status. While this designation is symbolic, it represents decades of hard-won progress in controlling a highly contagious and potentially dangerous disease. Countries earn measles elimination status when they can demonstrate that they have stopped continuous, endemic transmission of the virus within their communities.
Canada lost this status after a year of sustained measles transmission; in 2025 alone, the country recorded 5,138 cases and 2 deaths—clear evidence that local spread had become reestablished.
The United States currently maintains its measles elimination status, but it is not guaranteed. Health authorities say they will meet in April to determine if the US has last its elimination status as well. If measles transmission (of a single transmission chain) were to become continuous for 12 months or more, the U.S. could also lose its designation—just as Canada did. This is why ongoing vaccination, rapid case investigation, and strong public health response remain critical to preventing further spread.U.S. Measles Cases by Year
Measles Symptoms: Measles symptoms typically appear 7–14 days after exposure, so if you were in the area during that window and begin to feel sick, please call your healthcare provider, or give us a call at 435-333-1500. People who have a high fever (101°F (39°C) or higher) and a cough, runny nose, or red eyes may have early stages of measles. A rash will usually appear after 4 days of fever. If you do develop symptoms you should stay away from other people and call your healthcare provider. Call first before you go to a clinic or hospital to prevent other people from exposure.
MMR Vaccine Information: The most effective way to prevent measles is through vaccination. Receiving two doses of the MMR/MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, /varicella (chickenpox)) vaccine provides strong protection against the virus. One dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine is 93% effective against measles, and two doses are 97% effective. It takes the body about 14 days after receiving the vaccine to develop immunity to measles. If you are unsure about your vaccination status, you can access your UTAH records here
If you’ve been unsure or on the fence about the MMR vaccine, now is a great time to revisit that conversation. Vaccines save lives.
To schedule a time to get a MMR shot, please call any of our health department locations:
| Park City: | 435-333-1500 |
| Kamas: | 435-783-3161 |
| Coalville: | 435-336-3234 |
There’s a lot of information circulating—some accurate, some not. If you have questions about something you’ve seen online or want to better understand the validity of a report, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m more than happy to talk through any concerns you may have.
For local updates, please check the Utah Department of Health’s Measles Response Page
In-between updates you can check out Johns Hopkins University’s measles tracking dashboard for national updates: • Case counts by state • An interactive map and searchable data table • View it here: Johns Hopkins Measles Dashboard
Measles Resources: Johns Hopkins Measles Dashboard | CDC | Utah | Summit County
Norovirus (“Stomach Flu”)
Norovirus is commonly referred to as the “stomach flu” even though it
is not related to the flu at all. Norovirus season is typically between
November and April. Norovirus is very contagious and causes vomiting and
diarrhea. Anyone can get it, most people get better within 1 to 3 days,
but you can still spread the virus for a few days after. Norovirus
spreads through the fecal-oral route, which can be as simple as touching
a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth or eating
contaminated foods. The best thing to do to protect yourself and others
is to WASH YOUR HANDS!
Welcome to the Summit County Health Department’s Respiratory Disease Dashboard.
This dashboard provides up-to-date information on influenza (flu), RSV, COVID-19, and occasionally other circulating illnesses in Summit County. During the active seasonal respiratory season (October–April), data are updated weekly each Wednesday to reflect the most current trends in our community.
Summit County tracks these illnesses through laboratory testing reports and state surveillance systems to monitor local activity and identify emerging patterns. The goal is to help residents, schools, and healthcare partners make informed decisions to protect themselves, their families, and our community.
Each week, I write Between 2 Graphs, a short, easy-to-read weekly blog summarizing what’s happening with respiratory diseases in Summit County, Utah, and across the U.S. I also highlight any other circulating illnesses of concern, such as measles. Weekly updates include graphs for flu, RSV, COVID-19, and norovirus, as well as wastewater data for COVID-19 and updated measles case counts related to the 2025 measles outbreak.
Thank you for staying informed and helping keep Summit County healthy this season.
This dashboard was last updated on Friday, February 13, 2026.
*I know the bottom of this Dashboard says that it has not been updated for 12 months, please ignore that. The accurate date of last update is listed above.
Hello! My name is Nancy Porter, I am the Epidemiologist for the Summit County Health Department. I lead efforts in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and public health research. I moved from Maryland to Summit County three years ago to be apart of the amazing Summit County Health team. I went to Penn State University for my bachelors and masters degree, focusing on public health sciences, and then I completed my doctoral course work in epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, focusing on cancer and genetic epidemiology. Other than loving data, I love adventuring outside, crafting, and plants.
If you have questions or comments about the respiratory disease dashboard, please email me at nporter@summitcountyutah.gov
