8 more cases of measles confirmed in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Health Services and Pinal County Public Health Services District have confirmed eight additional cases of measles in Arizona, bringing the total number to 10.

The current outbreak started at a private detention center in Eloy with two cases. Officials said the center was taking additional steps to prevent the disease from spreading. State health officials Saturday night issued a health alert for Pinal County and updated a list of locations where individuals may have been exposed if they were there at certain times:

• 1-5 p.m. May 15; 6-10 p.m. May 16; 7-10:30 p.m. May 18 at the Apostolic Assembly – The Faith, 424 E. Frontier Street in Eloy.
• 6-9 p.m. May 17 at the Villa Oasis High School graduation, 3740 N Toltec Road in Toltec.
• 1-5:30 p.m. May 18 at Cottonwood Medical Center, 560 North Camino Mercado, Unit 7 in Casa Grande.
• 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. May 21 at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 North Maricopa Road in Maricopa.
• 8:30-11 a.m. May 22 at Arco AM/PM Store, 2245 East Florence Boulevard in Casa Grande.

Last year, Arizona was part of a multi-state measles outbreak that originated at Disneyland in California. Seven Arizonans contracted measles and nearly 1,000 were possibly exposed. That was the total number of measles cases reported in Arizona in 2015. In 2014, there were three reported measles cases in Arizona.

Officials warned the public to be aware of symptoms, such as a fever of 101 degrees or higher, red and watery eyes, a cough, runny nose and a rash that is red, raised and blotchy. The rash starts on the face at the hairline and moves down the body. Symptoms typically appear seven to 12 days after exposure, but can take up to 21 days.

"It’s extremely important that people who have a rash and fever call their healthcare provider or emergency department ahead of time to let them know they may have measles," said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, in a news release. "This will help stop the spread of measles, especially to those who are more at risk of developing complications."

Individuals are immune if they have received two measles, mumps and rubella vaccines or were born before 1957 and received one vaccine.