Maricopa County on Thursday reported its first measles case amid the state’s ongoing outbreak. Arizona has had more than 200 measles cases since June, but no cases had been confirmed in the state’s most populous county until now.
Most measles cases in Arizona’s outbreak have been in Mohave County around the remote Utah border town of Colorado City. But Pima and Coconino counties have both reported their first cases in recent weeks.
Now, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health reports an adult resident of the Valley who had recently traveled internationally has been hospitalized with measles.
The department had warned of potential measles exposures at a concert in Phoenix in November and at Sky Harbor International Airport in June, but neither of those warnings involved a Maricopa County resident.
The department said the newly infected Maricopa County resident likely contracted measles abroad but was not contagious when traveling back to Maricopa County. The department is not warning of any possible public exposures related to the case.
“While the overall risk to the community remains low, it’s important residents remain vigilant given the ongoing spread of measles across our state and beyond,” said Dr. Nick Staab, chief medical officer for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
Staab said it is not necessarily surprising that measles has made its way to Maricopa County as the extremely contagious virus continues to spread across the U.S.
He said measles can lead to serious complications, but said vaccination offers strong protection against infection — 97% of the state’s cases have been among people who are unvaccinated.
Staab said Arizonans can look up their in-state vaccination records through the Arizona Department of Health Services or by calling the MCDPH CARES Team at 602-506-6767.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we see, but it is also highly preventable. The MMR vaccine is a proven way to protect yourself, your family, and our community,” Staab said.
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