Even though the largest measles outbreak of the year officially ended on August 8, the work did not stop there. State and local disease detectives, along with CDC, continued to review all rash illnesses reported in the detention center before the first measles cases were identified. The goal was to see if, looking back, these rashes were actually measles cases. The disease detectives used specialized lab testing and reviewed medical records to look for undiagnosed cases. They found seven more cases in detainees at the facility.
While these cases are newly reported in our disease summary this week, the individuals are no longer infectious and do not present a risk to the Arizona community. The total of 29 cases in this this outbreak makes it the largest measles outbreak in Arizona in the past 25 years.
The measles vaccine (MMR) is the best way to protect you and your family against measles. Even though measles was eliminated from the United States in 2000, it is still common in many parts of the world. This outbreak and others like it continue to show that measles anywhere is a risk to everyone.
