A Measles Uptick in Arizona Highlights Ongoing Challenges
Arizona, after witnessing a decline in measles cases, has noted a slight rise in infections as of June. This comes after a period of reduced transmission, following a peak in December.
The measles outbreak in Arizona, which began in August 2025, saw its highest number of cases in December with 54 confirmed instances. The trend then shifted downward until May, which recorded only six cases. However, June experienced an increase to nine cases, as shared by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Since the start of the outbreak, a total of 332 measles cases have been reported in Arizona for 2025 and 2026. Mohave County bore the brunt with 285 cases. Fortunately, this outbreak has now concluded, with no new cases in over two months.
Despite the containment in Mohave, the virus continues to surface in other regions. Recent confirmations of new cases have come from Pinal and Maricopa counties. Additionally, Yavapai County recently reported its first case of 2026, and officials warn of possible public exposures in the Prescott area.
Will Humble from the Arizona Public Health Association suggests that measles could persist sporadically due to insufficient vaccination coverage. “It’s going to happen off and on for a long, long time because vaccination rates are just not sufficient anymore to stop and prevent the spread of measles,” he explained.
The MMR vaccine is known for offering robust and lifelong protection against measles. The state’s health department has indicated that approximately 96% of recent cases involved unvaccinated individuals.
Experts, including the CDC, emphasize that controlling measles requires at least 95% of the population to be immune. However, Arizona’s vaccination rates fall short of this herd immunity threshold. In 2025, only about 89% of the state’s kindergarteners were fully vaccinated for measles, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
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