Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities in Arizona and Texas are reporting measles cases among detainees.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports one ICE detainee in the Florence Detention Center in Pinal County tested positive for measles on Jan. 21.
Two more measles cases have recently been confirmed among people who are also in federal custody in the county, according to a spokesperson for the Pinal County Public Health Services District. But the spokesperson did not provide details about which facility the other two infected individuals are in, or whether any of the three cases in the county are linked.
DHS on Saturday confirmed another two measles cases in an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas.
In a statement, DHS officials said all infected detainees are quarantined, and ICE is limiting movement within impacted facilities to control the spread of measles.
“Medical staff is continuing to monitor the detainees’ conditions and will take appropriate and active steps to prevent further infection. All detainees are being provided with proper medical care,” the statement said.
Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known. The virus can linger in the air for two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes. And the virus will infect 90% of unvaccinated people who come in contact with it.
In Arizona, 34 measles cases have been confirmed since the start of this year.
