Wyoming Authorities Declare State of Emergency After Measles Outbreak

The emergency was declared at the request of Teton County Health Department director Travis Riddell.

Published: 7/14/2026, 5:50:14 PM EDT

Wyoming Authorities Declare State of Emergency After Measles Outbreak — A sign about measles in Seminole, Texas, on April 9, 2025. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The Teton County Board of Commissioners in Wyoming has declared a state of emergency over a rising number of reported measles cases.

Officials confirmed five cases of measles statewide and four cases in Teton County on July 14, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) website.

Additionally, the WDH announced concerns that the public may have been exposed at a Target in Jackson Hole off of Highway 89 in Jackson on July 5, 6, or 7.

The emergency was declared at the request of Teton County Health Department director Travis Riddell.

Residents seeking to verify their local immunization records or report personal potential exposure symptoms are urged to call the Teton County Health Department clinical services division or visit the official Wyoming Department of Health portal.

“As this outbreak unfolds, I suggest individuals confirm their own immunity status, or get the MMR vaccine if they cannot confirm it,” Riddell said in a statement.

The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine is usually administered during childhood and offers lifetime protection.

Public health officials say the core of the outbreak is in Colter Bay Village, where Grand Teton National Park concessionaire employees live and interact with a high number of visitors from across the country and around the globe.

Neither the Teton County Health Department nor the Wyoming Department of Health responded to NTD's request for comment by the time of publication.

Three linked cases of measles were confirmed among people living in Teton County’s Colter Bay Village on June 28, July 10, and July 11.

The fourth case occurred in Fremont County, and the fifth case is an adult with no identified links to the previous three Teton County cases.

WDH officials said on their website that measles is highly contagious and can result in serious illness, including pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization, and death.

Measles is caused by a virus that is easily spread through the air and settles on surfaces.

While most people recover, some become seriously ill and can die from it. This is especially true for children younger than age 5 and people with weakened immune systems.

The National Park Service Office of Health and Safety is assisting WDH in contact tracing.

The National Park Service said that the public may have been exposed to measles at locations within Grand Teton National Park, including the Smith’s Food and Drug store on July 5, Wendy’s on July 5, and the Colter Bay General/Grocery Store, Coffee Bar and Gift Shop on July 7.