JACKSON, Wyo. — The Teton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning to lift the state of emergency issued in July related to a local measles outbreak.
The Teton County Health Department’s (TCHD) Director of Health Travis Riddell told Buckrail he asked for the order to be lifted because enough time has passed since the most recent case was confirmed.
“I requested this based on the fact that it has been almost four weeks since our most recent confirmed case, allowing sufficient time for that case to no longer be infectious and for the 21-day possible incubation period for any new cases,” Riddell wrote in an email. “This means that we do not expect any new cases linked to our local outbreak.”
Five cases were reported in Teton County this summer, with four cases considered to be in the same chain of transmission. This year, cases have also been reported in Fremont County, and in Teton County, Idaho. Nationwide case counts have already outpaced the total number of cases reported in 2025, according to the Associated Press.
Riddell noted that the wider outbreak continuing in the rest of the country means the disease could return to Teton County.
“It is, therefore, still a good idea for people to ensure they are up to date on their vaccines,” he wrote. In July, as new cases emerged, TCHD expanded its eligibility requirements for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, advising infants under 1 year in age to get the first dose as early as 6 months old.
Measles can cause serious illnesses including pneumonia and encephalitis, which can lead to hospitalization and even death. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body. People who get sick with these symptoms should call their health care provider for guidance. Infants, non-immune pregnant women and immunocompromised people are at the highest risk. For more information on measles, including guidance on what to do if exposed, visit the Wyoming Department of Health website.
