A person infected with measles recently traveled through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, exposing the public to the highly contagious virus between June 10 and midnight in Concourses C and D of Terminal 4. Local health officials are working to notify individuals who may have been exposed and encourage them to stay up-to-date on their vaccines.
As of June 9, Arizona had confirmed four cases of measles this year, all linked to unvaccinated travelers with recent international history. Nationwide, there were over 1,100 confirmed cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by an airborne virus that spreads easily when infected individuals breathe, sneeze, or cough. Symptoms include high fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a rash, which typically appears 3-5 days after the first symptoms.
While measles can be severe, especially in children, vaccination is key to prevention. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective and recommended for children between 12 and 15 months and 4 and 6 years old.
Vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic, with most states below the 95% threshold needed to protect against measles outbreaks. Arizona’s kindergarten vaccination rate stands at around 88%, according to recent data.
Source: https://ktar.com/arizona-health-news/measles-phoenix-airport/5718120