Arizona announces confirmed measles case in Pima County

Courier stock photo

Courier stock photo

Spread of Measles

The majority of people who got measles were unvaccinated.

Measles is still common in many parts of the world including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Travelers with measles continue to bring the disease into the U.S.

Measles can spread when it reaches a community in the U.S. where groups of people are unvaccinated.

TUCSON — Arizona health authorities say Pima County has a confirmed case of measles involving a 1-year-old infant, the first such case in the state since 2016.

Health officials are investigating the circumstances, including whether there has been any community exposure to the disease, which is highly contagious.

Spokesman Chris Minnick of the state Department of Health Services said the child had been in "Asia-related travel." Details of the travel and the child's gender weren't released.

Officials say measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms appear up to 12 days after exposure but may take another week to appear. It begins with fever, red and watery eyes, cough and runny nose and is followed by a rash.

Pima County includes Tucson, Arizona's second most populous city.


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