PHOENIX – Maricopa County health officials announced Saturday that a case of measles has been confirmed in the Valley State by an international visitor.
Cases of the highly contagious disease are increasing in the United States and abroad; According to the Maricopa County Public Health Department. (MCDPH).
The county health department also identified two public locations Saturday where measles exposure may have occurred. The first is a breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to noon at The Garden Grill and Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn Chandler Downtown (150 S. Arizona Ave.). The other location is Twin Peaks, 2135 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix, from 2 to 5 p.m.
“Measles is highly contagious and completely preventable,” MCDPH Assistant Medical Director Dr. Nick Staab said in a press release. “We encourage residents to stay informed about vaccines and to be aware of measles symptoms, especially if they are at high risk or have not been vaccinated.”
Measles spreads through the air and can cause severe illness in young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
A case of measles has been confirmed in Maricopa County. We are investigating exposures as cases rise in the U.S. and abroad. This is a highly contagious disease, and unvaccinated people are most at risk. read more: https://t.co/qUcqgA3AM7 pic.twitter.com/xqwectaYul
— Maricopa County Public Health (@Maricopahealth) February 10, 2024
In the United States, 20% of unvaccinated people who contract measles will be hospitalized. According to MCDPH. About 30% of cases develop serious complications, such as ear infections that can cause permanent hearing loss, pneumonia, and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
Before a vaccine became available in 1963, measles infected millions of people and killed 400 to 500 people each year in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control.
What are the symptoms of measles?
According to MCDPH, it can take 21 days after infection for symptoms to appear, and people infected with the virus can spread the virus before they feel sick.
Symptoms include fever, cough, white spots on the throat, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and rash. The rash usually appears a few days after the first symptoms and usually starts on the forehead and spreads downward.
Anyone who has been exposed to measles or has symptoms should self-isolate and contact their health care provider by phone. Do not visit a clinic or hospital without first setting up a visit.
