Measles Exposure Confirmed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport: What You Need to Know

Why this matters: Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications, especially in young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. Staying informed and up-to-date on vaccinations is crucial to protecting yourself and the community.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) is coordinating with federal, state, and airport officials to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed to measles at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The exposure occurred on June 10, 2025, between 5 p.m. and midnight in Terminal 4, Concourses C and D, beyond the security checkpoints.

Measles spreads through direct contact with an infected person or through the air when they cough or sneeze. The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Symptoms of measles include fever (101°F or higher), red, watery eyes, cough, runny nose, and a red, raised, blotchy rash that starts on the face and moves down the body.

This incident follows the confirmation of four measles cases in Navajo County, Arizona, marking the state’s first cases of the year. Nationally, measles cases are on the rise, with over 1,197 cases reported in 35 states as of June 12, 2025, more than four times the number reported in 2024, according to the CDC. This resurgence threatens the U.S.’s measles elimination status achieved in 2000.

Declining vaccination rates contribute to the increased risk of measles outbreaks. Health officials urge individuals to verify their vaccination status and get vaccinated if they are not up-to-date on their MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.

Measles spreads through direct contact with an infected person or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms include fever, red, watery eyes, cough, runny nose, and a red, raised, blotchy rash.

Verify your vaccination status, monitor for symptoms, and contact your healthcare provider if symptoms develop. Call ahead before visiting a medical facility to prevent further exposure.

Symptoms typically appear 7 to 12 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in protecting against measles infection.

Do you think the rise in measles cases is a serious public health threat? What measures should be taken to improve vaccination rates? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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