Arizona Health officials confirmed two more measles cases in detainees at the Eloy Detention Center in Pinal County. This brings the total count of measles cases to 16. Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said all 1,500 to 1,700 detainees in the facility have been immunized and new detainees are receiving vaccinations just to be safe.
“When somebody’s being brought into a detention center like this, they don’t normally bring their medical records with them,” Christ said. “So it’s difficult to document and verify someone’s medical history and people are coming from all over the world.”
Dr. Christ said everyone needs to be immunized because no vaccine is 100 percent effective and being vaccinated protects those who medically cannot be. Only one case is confirmed outside of the detention center, in Maricopa County.