The number of measles cases is on the rise in Arizona. While most cases are cropping up in Mohave County in the northwestern part of the state, there are also now confirmed cases in Maricopa County.
Statewide, Arizona has confirmed 24 cases of measles so far in January. Health officials are warning of possible public exposures in Maricopa and Pima counties and are continuing to urge Arizonans to take precautions against the extremely contagious disease.
Dr. Nick Staab is chief medical officer with Maricopa County Public Health.
He says if you think you've been exposed, "there's a window of 72 hours, so three days during which time we really try to get that individual vaccinated to try and prevent them from becoming infected."
Staab says measles is highly infectious and can linger in the air two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes.
He says Maricopa County has a vaccination rate of around 88% and that the aim is 95%.
"So the 97% of cases in unvaccinated people, those are Arizona numbers in the outbreak that's been occurring since through 2025. We know that in Maricopa County, our vaccination rate, when we look at school vaccination rates is around 88%. So I think that's really important. We have about 90% of our community who has chosen to be vaccinated. But 97% being unvaccinated, that really highlights how — what higher risk those individuals are at," Stabb told The Show.
Possible exposures
Maricopa County public health officials are warning of possible public measles exposures for anyone who visited the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa on Jan. 23 or 24; Gilbert locations of Target on Jan. 13, EOS Fitness on Jan. 13 or 15, or Sam’s Club on Jan. 15.; or the Hale Theatre in Gilbert Jan. 5-9.
Pima County health officials are warning of possible exposures at two El Rio Health Center locations in Tucson on Jan. 13, 14, 21 and 22; a Tucson Fry’s location on Jan. 21; and a Tucson El Herradero supermarket on Jan. 22.
