On my very first day at PVHC, I heard doctors and nurses talking about measles. They seemed concerned about it coming to our area, based on reports about cases around the state, and they didn’t want patients bringing it to the hospital by accident. Strong immunization efforts in the past have all but eliminated measles in most of the developed world, though imported cases still cause outbreaks in communities that are unprepared. With six confirmed cases in Wyoming and decreased vaccination rates in Park County, we are at risk for a measles outbreak. My hope is that bringing public awareness to measles will help prevent that. 

I wanted to know more about how measles might affect Powell specifically, so I met with Park County Public Health Nurse Brandon Koehler. He told me about the recent cases in the state and where we stand in Park County. In July 2026 there were five confirmed cases of measles in Teton County and one in Fremont. While six cases may not seem like much, one person with measles can infect 12-18 other people. Measles, I learned, is the most contagious disease.

I also spoke with Park County Public Health Director Dr. Aaron Billin, who explained that to prevent a measles outbreak in any given community, the immunization rate needs to be 95% — a concept called herd immunity. In Park Country, the MMR uptake has fallen below that threshold, leaving Powell and Cody vulnerable to an outbreak. In 2025, only 78% of Park County children between 19 and 35 months received one dose of MMR. So with cases popping up around us, what can we do in Powell to prevent an outbreak? While we can’t control who might come here carrying the virus, we can do three specific things to prevent it from spreading. 

Firstly, know the signs and symptoms. These include a five to six-day fever, non-itchy rash that starts at the hairline and moves down to the body, along with a cough and runny nose. These symptoms usually clear up on their own after a couple weeks, but there can be severe complications. One of those is called SSPE, a lethal brain condition that has the highest risk in children under 5. Measles also severely weakens immunity, opening the door to pneumonia and other infections. While fatal complications are rare, even one instance in Powell would be too many.

Secondly, if you notice symptoms in yourself or your child, call your doctor’s office before coming to the clinic. Measles is transmitted in the air and can remain in an enclosed area for hours after you’re gone. You don’t want to walk into the clinic and spread it to anyone else — especially people with weakened immunity. Your doctor can advise you on next steps after you call. There is currently no treatment for measles besides letting it run its course, but it is important to monitor for severe complications. 

Thirdly, check your medical records to make sure you and your children have been immunized with the MMR vaccine. Most adults were either vaccinated as children or had measles, both of which confer immunity. One dose of MMR confers immunity to 93% of people, and two doses bumps it up to 97%. If you are unsure if you ever received it or if you are still immune, you can request a booster dose from your primary care provider. Ask your doctor about when your children should get the MMR vaccine. 

Wide-spread immunization is the simplest way to prevent an outbreak, but not everyone feels the decision to vaccinate is so simple. It’s common, especially in the wake of Covid, to be wary about vaccine safety. All the healthcare providers I talked to at PVHC consider MMR to be safe and effective, and they recommend it for their pediatric patients. But the question lingers: Does MMR cause autism? In 1998, a single discredited study of 12 children (with no control group) fabricated a link between MMR and autism. However, every robust study that followed has found no increased risk of autism from MMR. Despite the well-known safety, as a parent I do think it’s fair to ask those questions. Have an open discussion with your doctor, address your concerns, and be open to their expertise. 

My wife, Emma, and I welcomed our son Azure 15 months ago. As parents, we have a responsibility to love and protect our son, so we chose to vaccinate him against measles. It’s the simplest, safest way to make sure he doesn’t get it. At the end of the day, both as a medical student and as a father, I believe it’s the best way to protect him. As a community, we can all do our part to protect our children and loved ones from a highly preventable disease: Know the symptoms, call your doctor if you suspect measles, and get the MMR vaccine.

(Powell native Jordan Moore is back in town, training at Powell Valley Healthcare as part of the WWAMI medical program. He is one of 20 Wyoming students selected in 2025 to participate in a partnership between the state of Wyoming and the University of Washington School of Medicine. As a TRUST student (Targeted Rural Underserved Track), Moore will spend a total of six months at PVHC — one month this summer and five months next year. Part of his month-long summer training is to bring public awareness to a local health concern, and he has chosen to address measles.)