Number of measles cases grows along Arizona-Utah border

By Chris Woodward
The Center Square

Measles cases have increased on the Arizona-Utah border.

An online dashboard operated by the Arizona Department of Health Services shows 111 total cases. Three people have been hospitalized. However, no deaths have been reported.

Of Arizona’s cases, 107 are in Mohave County. The other four are in Navajo County.

On Oct. 24, Arizona reported 84 total cases and three hospitalizations.

The Center Square was unable to reach someone at the state’s Department of Health Services for comment.

Across the border, Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services is reporting 67 confirmed measles cases as of Tuesday. Nine Utah residents have been diagnosed with measles in the last three weeks.

Most cases (51) are in southwest Utah. That’s up from the 44 that Health and Human Services epidemiologist Clarissa Keisling told The Center Square about last week.

Other areas with measles include Utah County (9), Bear River (4) and southeast Utah (3).

The state of Utah recommends that people get vaccinated for measles. Keisling called it “the best way to keep you and your family safe” from measles.

“An early, extra MMR dose is currently recommended for infants who live in or are planning to travel to Washington County,” Keisling told The Center Square. “MMR” refers to a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

“It’s something that we recommend because this county has met certain criteria given the community spread in the area,” Keisling said.

In addition, Utah recommends that anyone with a child under six months old should only “surround them with people who are vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, Utah continues to monitor wastewater to look for and detect viral shedding in communities around the state to detect whether there is community transmission early. A positive finding in wastewater allows officials to focus on early responses and work with the local health department before cases, if any, are reported.

“We’ve moved to updating our measles case count dashboard as well as our wastewater dashboard,” said Keisling. “Those are updated typically on Tuesdays, weekly, and we have been using that as a very useful resource for keeping an eye out for new cases across the state.”

Arizona’s dashboard is also updated on Tuesdays.

Measles is a contagious virus that officials say can remain airborne up to two hours after a person with measles has left a room. Symptoms are known to start seven to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and rash.