Mesa sees largest measles outbreak in decades, health officials urge vaccination
ABC15 Arizona • • health
Key Points:
- Maricopa County is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in 30 years, with 15 confirmed cases in 2026, including 11 linked to exposures starting April 23 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa.
- Public health officials have identified two key exposure events and have published a list of affected locations online for residents to check.
- Measles is highly contagious, with symptoms beginning as fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a characteristic rash, and vaccination rates in the Phoenix metro area have dropped below 90 percent.
- Health experts emphasize the importance of the measles vaccine, which is over 95 percent effective with two doses, urging residents to stay up to date to prevent sustained transmission.
- Officials warn that low immunization rates increase the risk of ongoing spread, advising unvaccinated individuals to monitor symptoms closely and isolate for 14 days if symptoms develop.