Welcome to the Utah vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) and invasive bacterial disease dashboard. This page provides an overview of trends and data for select VPDs and invasive bacterial diseases monitored throughout Utah. The information here is designed to help identify changes in disease activity, guide public health responses, and support disease prevention efforts across the state.
Data are updated monthly. Most of the tables, charts, and maps in this report are interactive. Click on the column heading to sort tables. Maps and charts can be sorted, zoomed, selected, etc. using the mouse cursor. Data will appear when you hover or click the mouse cursor. Controls appear at the top right corner of charts when you put the mouse cursor on the chart. These data are monitored by epidemiologists to detect changes in disease activity and guide prevention and education efforts. More information can be found here.
Tabs across the top of this page lead to subpages grouped by diseases, starting with less common VPDs including meningococcal disease, diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis. Data on select invasive bacterial diseases including pneumococcal disease (Streptococcus pneumoniae), group A and group B Streptococcus, and Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, are located under the ‘Invasive streptococcus diseases’ tab.
Data for viral hepatitis can be viewed on the Utah Viral hepatitis dashboard.
Data for Covid-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be viewed on the Utah respiratory disease surveillance dashboard.
Immunization coverage data for various age groups and vaccines throughout Utah can be viewed on the Utah immunization dashboard. Additional information and data reports for immunization coverage levels in Utah can be found here.
All rates in this dashboard are per 100,000 people. Data from 2024 is the most recent complete year. Data are subject to change as they become finalized. Individual disease investigations take time to complete; for this reason, data in this report should be considered provisional and will change as more complete reports are received.
“MMWR week” refers to a standardized week numbering system used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for epidemiological reporting. The first day of any MMWR week is Sunday. MMWR week numbering is sequential beginning with 1 and incrementing with each week to a maximum of 52 or 53. MMWR week #1 of an MMWR year is the first week of the year that has at least four days in the calendar year. NOTE: because of this rule, December 29, 30, and 31 could potentially fall into MMWR week #1 of the following MMWR year.
Report date: March 12, 2025
Data notes: Averages are susceptible to skewing due to outbreaks and should be interpreted with care. YTD indicates counts are year-to-date. Trend is calculated by comparing the current year-to-date count to the 5-year year-to-date average. A percent change of 15% or more will result in a change in the trend. This should not be interpreted as statistical significance. *Data for diseases with low counts have been suppressed.
Meningococcal disease is a name for any infection caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. There are 2 common meningococcal infections. One kind of meningococcal infection can infect the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause swelling, leading to meningitis. Another meningococcal infection can enter the blood and damage the walls of the blood vessels and cause bloodstream infections. This causes bleeding in the skin and organs. The most common symptoms include high fever, tiredness, and a rash. Changes in behavior such as confusion, sleepiness, and being hard to wake up are important symptoms to watch for. Meningitis and bloodstream infections are both very serious and can be deadly. Meningococcal disease is rare, but it is more common in infants, children, and young adults.
Neisseria meningitidis bacteria can spread by contact with mucus or when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. It also requires close continuous contact to spread meningococcal disease. The best way to prevent meningococcal disease is to get vaccinated.
Diphtheria is a serious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract and skin. It’s caused by a toxin produced by a bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae). It is extremely rare in the U.S., but is most common where people live in crowded conditions and among people who have not been vaccinated for diphtheria. Diphtheriae is most commonly spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. People can also get infected by touching open sores or ulcers caused by C. diphtheriae. Vaccination can reduce the risk of diphtheria infection.
There are 2 types of diphtheria, respiratory and skin. Respiratory diphtheria is the most common and serious type of diphtheria and occurs when C. diphtheriae toxin infects the nose and throat. Symptoms of respiratory diphtheria include not feeling well, sore throat, not wanting to eat, low-grade fever, swelling of the neck (“bull neck”), and a bluish-white coating of dead tissue that can build up in the nose and in the back of the throat. Skin infection diphtheria happens when the bacteria that make diphtheria toxin infect the skin. Signs and symptoms of a diphtheria infection on the skin include a mild flaky rash, blisters, or a sore on the skin that doesn’t heal.
Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria that create toxins in the body and can cause serious symptoms such as stiff muscles and muscle spasms all over the body. The muscle stiffness usually involves the jaw (lockjaw), neck, and later spreads to the rest of the body.
Tetanus is different from other vaccine-preventable diseases because it does not spread from person to person. The bacteria are usually found in soil, dust, and manure. The bacteria enter the body through breaks in the skin—usually cuts or puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects. If left untreated, tetanus can cause jaw cramping, sudden, involuntary muscle tightening, painful muscle stiffness, trouble swallowing, fever and sweating, high blood pressure, high heart rate, and even death. The best way to prevent tetanus is to be vaccinated.
Polio, or Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by one of the polioviruses. Polio affects the brain and spinal cord and causes a sudden onset of paralysis or weakness that makes arms or legs become floppy and hard to move. Most people who get polio have no symptoms at all. Fewer than 1% of people who get polio will become paralyzed. Paralysis from polio comes on quickly and usually doesn’t get any worse after 3 days. Polio is most commonly spread through the fecal-oral route (poop-to-hand-to-mouth). There is no cure for polio. The best way to prevent polio and paralysis from polio is to get vaccinated.
Notes: All rates in this dashboard are per 100,000 people. Data from 2024 is the most recent complete year. Numbers are subject to change as data are finalized. Cases reported for meningicoccal disease include probable and confirmed. Cases reported for diphtheria are confirmed. All reports of tetanus are included.
Report date: March 12, 2025
Measles is a disease caused by the measles virus. Measles symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. After these first symptoms, a rash begins to appear. Measles rash often starts as flat red spots (lesions) on the face near the hairline. The rash then spreads to the rest of the body (neck, chest, belly, arms, legs, and feet). Raised bumps may form, and the spots may become one connected rash. Most people with measles also develop Koplik spots, or blue-white spots on the soft part of the inside of the mouth. Measles can cause complications such as pneumonia and ear infection.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. Measles is highly infectious—9 out of 10 people exposed to measles will likely become infected if they are not immune either from vaccination or a previous infection. You can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been. Two doses of MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent measles infection and illness.
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes one or both of the salivary (parotid) glands to swell. In addition to inflamed salivary glands, people with mumps may experience fever and swelling of the glands below the lower jaw and under the tongue. Most people with mumps will only have mild illness, but in very extreme cases mumps can cause hearing loss and meningitis (swelling of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Males who get mumps can get painful swelling of their testicles, which occasionally can lead to infertility.
Children between the ages of 5 and 14 are the most likely to get mumps. Mumps spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. The infected person can spread the disease before they know they are infected. Getting 2 doses of the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against mumps.
Rubella is sometimes called “German measles,” but it is caused by a different virus than measles and usually causes mild illness in children and adults. However, for pregnant women who get rubella, it can become serious because they can transmit rubella to their unborn child. The virus can affect the unborn child and cause the baby to be born with cataracts, deafness, or intellectual disability.
Symptoms for children and adults are mild: low-grade fever, rash, weakness, headache, runny nose, and red eyes. Rubella is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. The MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent rubella infection.
Notes: All rates in this dashboard are per 100,000 people. Data from 2024 is the most recent complete year. Numbers are subject to change as data are finalized. Cases reported for measles include probable and confirmed. Cases reported for mumps include probable, confirmed, and unknown. Cases reported for rubella include confirmed and unknown.
Report date: March 12, 2025
Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The virus causes an itchy blister-like rash, fatigue (tiredness), and fever. It can be especially serious in babies, older adults, and people who have weakened immune systems.Chickenpox spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. It can also be spread by touching or breathing in particles from chickenpox blisters. The chickenpox vaccine is very effective at preventing chickenpox. For people who do get infected with chickenpox even though they’ve been vaccinated, the vaccine helps make the chickenpox symptoms less severe.
Notes: All rates in this dashboard are per 100,000 people. Data from 2024 is the most recent complete year. Numbers are subject to change as data are finalized. Cases reported include confirmed and probable cases.
Report date: March 12, 2025
Note: “MMWR week” refers to a standardized week numbering system used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for epidemiological reporting. The first day of any MMWR week is Sunday. MMWR week numbering is sequential beginning with 1 and incrementing with each week to a maximum of 52 or 53. MMWR week #1 of an MMWR year is the first week of the year that has at least four days in the calendar year. NOTE: because of this rule, December 29, 30, and 31 could potentially fall into MMWR week #1 of the following MMWR year.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2024 data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Rates for the 5-year totals are calculated using the average population for each age group over the period 2020-2024.
Haemophilus influenzae are bacteria that live in people’s noses and throats. It can cause many different types of infections. These infections range from mild (like ear infections) to serious, such as inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord, and bloodstream infections. Signs and symptoms of H. influenzae depend on the part of the body that is infected. H. influenzae spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. The bacteria can also spread to people who have close or continuous contact with a person who is infected with H. influenzae.
One common type of H. influenzae is Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Type B), which causes serious disease and usually occurs in children younger than 5 years old. Children can have this bacteria in their nose and throat and not get sick. But sometimes the bacteria spreads into the lungs or the blood and can cause serious problems such as inflammation of parts of the brain and spinal cord, or pneumonia (infection of the lungs). The best way to prevent Hib is by getting the Hib vaccine.
Notes: All rates in this dashboard are per 100,000 people. Data from 2024 is the most recent complete year. Data are subject to change as they become finalized. Cases reported are confirmed cases.
Report date: March 12, 2025
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2024 data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 5-year totals are calculated using the average population for each age group over the period 2020-2024.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an illness that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria make it hard to clear out mucus and saliva. Whooping cough is highly contagious and most harmful to infants and children. Most children get whooping cough from adults and not from other children. Children can suffer complications such as pneumonia and in rare cases, can die from whooping cough, especially children younger than 1 year old.
Symptoms usually occur in 2 stages: The first stage begins like a cold, with a runny nose, sneezing, and a low-grade fever. The second stage includes uncontrolled coughing spells. The second stage can last 6–10 weeks. It is very contagious during the first weeks of the illness and becomes less contagious by the end of 3 weeks. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. Whooping cough can also spread when someone comes into contact with infected droplets on items such as clothes, utensils, or furniture that then enter the body when a person touches their eyes, nose, or mouth after they touch one of these contaminated items. When someone who has whooping cough takes antibiotics, the antibiotics can make it so the person is contagious for a shorter period of time. The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated.
Notes: All rates in this dashboard are per 100,000 people. Data from 2024 is the most recent complete year. Data are subject to change as they become finalized. Cases reported include probable and confirmed.
Report date: March 12, 2025
Note: “MMWR week” refers to a standardized week numbering system used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for epidemiological reporting. The first day of any MMWR week is Sunday. MMWR week numbering is sequential beginning with 1 and incrementing with each week to a maximum of 52 or 53. MMWR week #1 of an MMWR year is the first week of the year that has at least four days in the calendar year. NOTE: because of this rule, December 29, 30, and 31 could potentially fall into MMWR week #1 of the following MMWR year.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2025 year-to-date (YTD) data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2024 data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 5-year totals are calculated using the average population for each age group over the period 2020-2024.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis or a blood stream infection. The disease is spread from person-to-person by direct contact with respiratory secretions, like saliva or mucus. Symptoms generally include an onset of fever and shaking or chills. Other common symptoms may include headache, cough, chest pain, disorientation, shortness of breath, weakness and occasionally stiff neck. Although anyone can get invasive pneumococcal disease, it occurs more frequently in infants, young children, African Americans, some Native American populations, the elderly or in people with serious underlying medical conditions.
Group A streptococcus (GAS) are bacteria that often live in the nose, throat, and on the skin. These bacteria can cause many different infections ranging from minor illnesses such as strep throat, scarlet fever, and impetigo, to major illnesses such as cellulitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Occasionally, the bacteria can be more severe and deadly and can begin to destroy the skin (known as necrotizing fasciitis) or cause streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. GAS bacteria are very contagious and spread by direct contact with an infected individual or secretions from the throat or nose of an infected person (usually mucus or droplets created when someone talks, coughs, or sneezes). There is no vaccine for group A streptococcus infections. The best way to prevent streptococcus infections is to wash your hands properly and regularly and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
Group B streptococcus (GBS) are bacteria that commonly live in people’s gastrointestinal and genital tracts. Most of the time the bacteria are not harmful and do not make people feel sick or have any symptoms. Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain infections, which are known as GBS disease. GBS causes illness in newborn babies, pregnant women, elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or liver disease. GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. Pregnant women should be tested for GBS late in pregnancy (36-37 weeks) as they can carry GBS and have no symptoms. Symptoms depend on the part of the body that is infected. Infection may cause bloodstream infections, lung infections, skin and soft-tissue infections, or bone and joint infections.
Newborn babies, pregnant individuals, adults older than 65, and people who have weakened immune systems are most at risk for complications from invasive GBS disease. Invasive GBS disease is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. Pregnant women can carry GBS and have no symptoms. This is why all pregnant women should be tested for GBS late in pregnancy (36–37 weeks). If you are pregnant and you test positive for GBS, your doctor can provide treatment to make sure your baby does not get infected with GBS when you give birth.
GBS comes and goes naturally in people’s bodies which is why not much is known about how it spreads to others. There are currently no vaccines to prevent invasive GBS disease.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is a rare but serious complication that can happen after someone is infected with group A streptococcus bacteria. STSS happens most often when the bacteria release toxins that get into the blood or into the deep tissue of the body, such as in the liver or kidney. STSS causes a sudden severe pain in the part of the body that is infected. This can lead to symptoms like high fever, low blood pressure, organ failure, and shock. It is not often easy to tell how someone became infected with group A streptococcal bacteria. Most likely it is through blunt trauma (getting hit without the skin breaking), injuries to muscles, joints, or bones such as muscle strains, or penetrating trauma (injury that breaks the skin) such as surgery or giving birth vaginally. There is no vaccine for group A streptococcus infections or STSS.
Notes: All rates in this dashboard are per 100,000 people. Data from 2024 is the most recent complete year. Data are subject to change as they become finalized. Cases reported for IPD include probable and confirmed. Cases reported for iGAS and iGBS are confirmed. Cases reported for STSS include confirmed and probable.
Report date: March 12, 2025
Note: “MMWR week” refers to a standardized week numbering system used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for epidemiological reporting. The first day of any MMWR week is Sunday. MMWR week numbering is sequential beginning with 1 and incrementing with each week to a maximum of 52 or 53. MMWR week #1 of an MMWR year is the first week of the year that has at least four days in the calendar year. NOTE: because of this rule, December 29, 30, and 31 could potentially fall into MMWR week #1 of the following MMWR year.
Note: “MMWR week” refers to a standardized week numbering system used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for epidemiological reporting. The first day of any MMWR week is Sunday. MMWR week numbering is sequential beginning with 1 and incrementing with each week to a maximum of 52 or 53. MMWR week #1 of an MMWR year is the first week of the year that has at least four days in the calendar year. NOTE: because of this rule, December 29, 30, and 31 could potentially fall into MMWR week #1 of the following MMWR year.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2024 data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 5-year totals are calculated using the average population for each age group over the period 2020-2024.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2024 data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 5-year totals are calculated using the average population for each age group over the period 2020-2024.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2024 data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 5-year totals are calculated using the average population for each age group over the period 2020-2024.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 2024 data are based on 2023 population counts.
**Counts for age groups with low counts have been suppressed. Note: rates for the 5-year totals are calculated using the average population for each age group over the period 2020-2024.