Arizona has confirmed 228 measles cases since August, most of which have been in a remote area of Mohave County. But in the past three weeks, Coconino, Pima, Maricopa and Pinal counties have all reported their first cases.
Maricopa and Pima county health officials are warning of potential public measles exposure for anyone who visited the Hale Theatre in Gilbert on several dates in early January or anyone who visited two El Rio health clinics in Tucson on Jan. 13 or 14.
As measles continues to spread, getting vaccinated is the best way Arizonans can protect themselves, said Dr. Richard Carmona, former U.S. surgeon general and an adviser to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
“Please get vaccinated because it not only protects you, it protects you from spreading disease to others. And many of those others are people who could be at significant risk,” Carmona said during a call with reporters Tuesday.
Carmona said the MMR vaccine is safe and very effective. 97% of measles cases in Arizona since 2025 have been among unvaccinated people, according to ADHS.
Carmona said falling vaccination rates are to blame for the resurgence of measles after three decades with very few infections in Arizona.
“It is really sad that we have been plagued with an epidemic of mis- and disinformation and people are uncertain of what to do or who to trust,” Carmona said. “That's really what we're trying to accomplish here, to give good information to each citizen so that they understand the importance of vaccination, and that they can make an informed decision to protect their family and the community.”
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Maricopa County public health officials say everyone who was at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 4 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Jan. 29 should watch for symptoms of measles through Feb. 19.
