Health officials report measles exposure at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

PHOENIX – Health officials on Monday reported a new measles exposure from last month at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) said it was working with federal, state and airport officials to notify people who may have been present during the latest measles exposure.

Anybody who was in Terminal 4 on Jan. 29 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. should watch for measles symptoms through Feb. 19, MCDPH said.

The infected traveler does not live in the area, leaving the number of confirmed measles cases for Valley residents in 2026 at three.

There have been six public measles exposures reported in metro Phoenix this year, but only one other site is still considered active.

Spectators who were at the baseball/softball fields at Mesa’s Arizona Athletic Grounds on Jan. 23-24 should watch for symptoms until Feb. 14, MCDPH said.

The risk window has closed for four previously reported sites in Gilbert: a Target, an EoS Fitness, a Sam’s Club and the Hale Theatre.

Symptoms to watch after latest measles exposure

Symptoms of measles include a fever, 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. The rash can last five to six days.

Anyone who develops symptoms is encouraged to self-isolate and seek medical care. Those who believe they have been infected should call their doctor in advance to ensure that other patients in waiting areas are not exposed to the virus.

The illness can typically be prevented through two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, which is recommended for all children. Adults who are not immunized should receive at least one dose, according to MCDPH.

How does measles spread?

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes.

People can catch it as much as two hours after an infected person leaves a room.

Arizona had 220 measles cases in 2025, most of which were part of an outbreak in Mohave County near the Arizona-Utah border, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Thirty-four more cases, including 25 in Mohave County, have been confirmed in the state so far this year.

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