Maricopa County Department of Public Health and ADHS have identified a confirmed case of measles in an Arizona resident. The case had a high fever starting on 1/29 and a maculopapular rash starting on his face and progressing downward. Case was diagnosed with suspect measles in an ED in Maricopa County on 2/4. A urine specimen was sent to the Arizona State Laboratory on 2/7 and tested PCR positive for measles on 2/8. Specimens are being sent to CDC to confirm the results. The case traveled outside of Arizona prior to illness onset, and it's likely they may have been exposed during that time. Maricopa County and ADHS are working to identify possible contacts of this case. This case has no known link to the previously reported case of measles in Tucson.

Measles is a viral disease of the upper respiratory system and is highly transmissible among unvaccinated or immunocompromised populations. Both airborne and droplet transmission of measles can occur. Measles typically starts with a prodrome of a fever with a cough, conjunctivitis, or coryza; followed shortly by a maculopapular rash on the face that then progresses downward and outward to the trunk and limbs. Infections occurring in immunocompromised populations may present atypically. Measles is not often seen in the US; however cases in individuals who have travelled overseas to areas with endemic measles do sporadically occur.

Any provider suspecting measles in a patient should notify their local health department immediately. In addition to standard precautions, suspect measles cases should be placed in airborne precautions as soon as possible. If a patient calls saying that they are ill and may have been exposed to measles, please take precautions to be sure that patients in your waiting room will not be exposed and that all your staff are adequately vaccinated. The best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated with two doses of MMR.