Measles comes to AZ

From the website of Navajo County -

First Confirmed Cases of Measles in Arizona for 2025 Identified in Navajo County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 9, 2025
First Confirmed Cases of Measles in Arizona for 2025 Identified in Navajo County

Navajo County, AZ — The Navajo County Public Health Services District (NCPHSD), in coordination with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), has confirmed four cases of measles within Navajo County. The individuals were not immunized and have a recent history of international travel. All individuals were exposed through a single source. These mark the first confirmed measles cases in both Navajo County and the state of Arizona in 2025.

Public health officials are actively working to identify locations where potential exposure may have occurred and are in the process of notifying individuals who may have been exposed. Those identified will be advised to monitor for symptoms for 21 days following the exposure period and to consider avoiding public spaces or high-risk environments during that time.

Potential exposure dates: May 17–28, 2025

Unvaccinated individuals, particularly those who may have been exposed, are urged to be vigilant in monitoring for early symptoms of measles, which typically appear 7–14 days after exposure.

Navajo County is a relatively remote county in NE Arizona but people in Maricopa County (and elsewhere) have to worry, too.

From the website of the Arizona Emergency Information Network -

Public Health Confirms Measles Exposure at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Individuals who were at the airport during exposure timeframe should know and watch for symptoms

Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has confirmed that a person infectious with measles traveled through Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. MCDPH is working with federal, state, and airport officials to protect travelers who may have been exposed.

“MCDPH is coordinating with other agencies to notify people who may have been exposed so they can watch for symptoms and get care if any develop,” said Dr. Nick Staab, Chief Medical Officer for MCDPH. “With a virus as highly infectious as measles, it’s a reminder that we all should stay up-to-date on our vaccines to keep ourselves and those around us safe.”

Details of the public exposure are:

• Location: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Terminal 4, beyond security checkpoints, Concourses C and D
• Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
• Time: 5PM to midnight

Routinely, anyone who was on the same flight as a person with a confirmed case of measles will be notified directly by their local public health department.

Measles can linger in the air for up to two hours after the infectious person leaves, and the stated exposure window includes that time.

Measles spreads by direct contact with an infected person or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person with measles can give the disease to other people even before they feel sick. Measles can cause serious illness, especially in young children, pregnant women and people with depressed immune systems.

Approximately 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected. Measles is preventable with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, typically given during childhood. Adults need at least one dose of MMR vaccine given after the age of one. Individuals born before 1957 or who had measles as a child are considered immune.

Navajo County isn't *quite* the epicenter of anti-vaxxer sentiment in AZ (Yavapai County is), but it's pretty bad there.

From the Arizona Department of Health Services -

Note: This table shows vaccination rates in Kindergarten (since measles is supposed to be a childhood disease, it seems appropriate) in the 2022-2023 school year (the most recent for which a report was available).

More recent data is available here.

While Texas has been the hardest hit state, it's hardly the only state hit by a measles outbreak (notwithstanding the subject of this post).

From the CDC -

It's not just cases of measles that are on the rise in AZ.

From AZFamily, written by Alaina Kwan, dated 5/30/2025 -

Whooping cough cases up 80% from last year in Arizona

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is on the rise in Arizona this year.

Cases have been surging nationwide; however, Arizona has seen an 80% increase compared to the same time last year, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Whooping cough is an airborne respiratory illness. Banner Health intensive care pediatrician Dr. Rahul Chawla said it can be dangerous for babies and young kids.

Since this is a political blog, I'll make the 2nd to last item a little political.

Also from the CDC -

The number of measles case nationally, 1267, are only exceeded by the number in 2019, 1274.

Cheeto was POTUS in both years.  Probably not a coincidence.

Oh, and the "1274" number is 2019 is thru the full year while this year's 1267 is only thru 7/1.

It'll get worse.

Before getting the disease, or even being being exposed to it, get vaccinated.  It'll protect you and any people around you.

If you have, or suspect you have, measles (or another communicable disease, self isolate and if you have to seek treatment, call your healthcare provider's office before you visit them, and follow their instructions before doing so (from an advisory from Coconino County Health and Human Services).