Maricopa County’s measles outbreak continues to expand, prompting health officials to issue another public exposure notice for one of Arizona’s busiest travel hubs. The latest advisory reflects the challenge of containing a highly contagious virus in locations where thousands of people pass through each day.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed one additional measles case on Wednesday, bringing the county’s total to 16 in 2026. Officials described the figure as significantly higher than the historical average of about one case per year over the past three decades. The newest public exposure site is Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where the infected individual was present between 6 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on June 17.
Anyone who was in Terminal 4 during that time is urged to verify their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms through July 8. Early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes, followed by the disease’s characteristic rash, which typically begins on the face before spreading downward.
The advisory serves as a reminder of how easily measles can spread in public settings. The virus can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, and approximately 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus will become infected. Health officials recommend that anyone who develops symptoms contact a healthcare provider before arriving for treatment to reduce the risk of exposing others.
