TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) \u2014 Health officials are warning shoppers about possible measles exposures in both the East and West valleys.<\/p>\n
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) says seven residents have tested positive for measles, and some visited local businesses while potentially contagious.<\/p>\n
Officials say possible exposures occurred at the following locations:<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Anyone who visited these locations should watch for symptoms, which typically appear seven to 12 days after being exposed.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Symptoms can include:<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Measles is highly contagious, and Maricopa County has reported far more cases than usual this year.<\/p>\n
The latest infections bring the county\u2019s total to 21 confirmed cases so far in 2026. It\u2019s a stark increase from the average of about one case per year over the past 30 years. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s also beyond the Valley. <\/p>\n
An additional measles case was reported in Yavapai County <\/a>on Thursday, and the virus was also recently detected in a wastewater treatment facility<\/a> in Sedona.<\/p>\n Are you at risk?<\/p>\n Officials say measles is preventable with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine<\/a>, typically given during childhood. Adults need at least one dose of MMR vaccine given after age 1. <\/p>\n MCDPH says about 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed will become infected. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n If you develop symptoms, officials recommend staying home and calling your health care provider for guidance.<\/p>\n More information on measles, including possible complications, can be found on MCDPH\u2018s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n