TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — Health officials are warning shoppers about possible measles exposures in both the East and West valleys.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) says seven residents have tested positive for measles, and some visited local businesses while potentially contagious.
Officials say possible exposures occurred at the following locations:
LocationAddressDateTimeTempe Marketplace2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy, TempeJuly 65 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Walmart13770 W. Bell Rd., SurpriseJuly 122 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Anyone who visited these locations should watch for symptoms, which typically appear seven to 12 days after being exposed.
In some cases, symptoms may take up to 21 days to show up. Health officials say the virus can survive in the air for up to two hours.
Symptoms can include:
High fever (above 101 degrees)Red, watery eyesCoughRunny noseA red, raised, blotchy rash (often starts on the face or hairline and spreads down the body)A spreading problem
Measles is highly contagious, and Maricopa County has reported far more cases than usual this year.
The latest infections bring the county’s total to 21 confirmed cases so far in 2026. It’s a stark increase from the average of about one case per year over the past 30 years.
It’s also beyond the Valley.
An additional measles case was reported in Yavapai County on Thursday, and the virus was also recently detected in a wastewater treatment facility in Sedona.
Are you at risk?
Officials say measles is preventable with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, typically given during childhood. Adults need at least one dose of MMR vaccine given after age 1.
MCDPH says about 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed will become infected.
There is no specific treatment for measles, and the illness can lead to serious complications. In rare cases, long-term effects can include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a progressive brain disorder that may not appear until years after the initial infection.
If you develop symptoms, officials recommend staying home and calling your health care provider for guidance.
More information on measles, including possible complications, can be found on MCDPH‘s website.
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