Public measles exposures identified in Flagstaff, downtown Phoenix last week

Two Arizona counties have confirmed measles exposures at public places last week. The infected people visited Flagstaff and downtown Phoenix.

According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, a person with infectious measles may have exposed people at two public locations last week. One of those was a concert at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 5 and the other at the Home2 Suites by Hilton in downtown Phoenix the same night.

Dr. Nick Staab is the county’s chief medical officer. He said people who are not immunized should look for symptoms, like a rash that starts on their face and moves down the body.

“You can also have red, watery eyes, cough, runny nose, so a lot of symptoms that we might also see during the present time due to other viral respiratory illnesses," Staab said.

Coconino County officials also confirmed that someone with measles visited the Flagstaff Mall on Nov. 6. Symptoms typically appear seven to 12 days after exposure but may take up to 21 days.

Measles is a highly infectious virus that can linger in the air for up to two hours, and approximately 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected. It is preventable with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, typically given during childhood.

“We are working closely with partners at the city and state levels, as well as at venues where the exposures occurred, to ensure that people are aware and protected,” Staab said. “This is a good reminder that any of us can face an exposure, and being vaccinated is our best defense.”