Measles exposure identified at Queen Creek Easter egg hunt, 2 other sites

PHOENIX – Maricopa County health officials on Thursday confirmed a new measles case in a local resident and identified three public exposure sites in Queen Creek.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) said the case is not linked to previous measles cases in the county and has no known source of exposure.

MCDPH said it is working with state and local partners to notify people who may have been exposed.

People who were at the following locations should watch for symptoms:

• Costco, 20260 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, on April 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Watch for symptoms through April 25.
• Walmart, 21055 E. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek, on April 4 from 8:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Watch for symptoms through April 26.
• Generation Church Queen Creek at Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary, 22801 Via Del Jardin, Queen Creek on April 5 from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This is specific to the junior high Sunday school and Easter egg hunt. Watch for symptoms through April 27.

The listed time windows include a two-hour buffer because the measles virus can linger in the air after an infected person leaves.

Dr. Maria Merrick, assistant medical director for MCDPH, said Maricopa County has kept measles at bay for years by staying up to date on vaccines.

“If you’ve been meaning to get the measles vaccine, this is your reminder,” Merrick said in an announcement about the case. “Measles spreads easily, and vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others.”

Measles symptoms to watch for

Symptoms of measles include a high fever above 101 degrees, red and watery eyes, a cough, a runny nose and a rash that develops after the other symptoms and is red, raised and blotchy.

The rash usually appears first on the face, near a person’s hairline, before moving down the body. Symptoms typically show up seven to 12 days after exposure but may take up to 21 days.

Anyone who develops symptoms is encouraged to stay home and call a health care provider before visiting a medical office so other patients are not exposed.

In some cases, those at higher risk are eligible for “post-exposure prophylaxis” specialized care. That includes infants under 12 months, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

How many measles cases does Arizona have?

Thursday’s case is the fifth confirmed in Maricopa County this year, following an initial case in January linked to international travel, a separate exposure at a Gilbert theater tied to a non-county resident and two additional cases later that month.

Statewide, Arizona has recorded 72 measles cases in 2026, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. The majority, 61, have been in Mohave County, part of an ongoing outbreak along the Arizona-Utah border that began in August 2025.

Arizona logged 220 measles cases last year.

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