Measles is still spreading, but Arizona reported fewer cases in February

Arizona’s measles outbreak is showing signs of slowing down. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported just one new measles case this week.

Most of Arizona’s recent measles cases have been in Mohave County around the small Utah border town of Colorado City. Since August, 261 cases have been confirmed there.

Mohave County added just 20 cases in February – the lowest monthly total since that outbreak began, according to Department of Health Services data.

Arizona Department of Health Services

Maricopa County has reported four measles cases since the start of this year, Pinal County has reported three, and Pima County has reported two. None of those three counties have warned of any new potential public measles exposures since early February.

While infections may be slowing in Arizona, measles cases are still on the rise nationwide, and medical experts still urge caution around the extremely contagious disease.

“I am definitely concerned because the measles outbreaks are spreading. We're seeing more and more of them, and more and more people across the country getting it, and I expect that it will happen in Arizona, at some point,” Dr. Sarah Coles, an associate professor with the University of Arizona Medical School told KJZZ’s The Show.

Coles said she urges patients to check their vaccination status and to get vaccinated against measles if they are not already immune.

She said the MMR vaccine provides strong, lifelong protection against measles. About 97% of cases in Arizona’s ongoing outbreak have been among unvaccinated people, according to the Department of Health Services.