Rising Measles Cases on the Arizona-Utah Border Spark Health Concerns
The tranquil region of Mohave County, located along the Arizona-Utah border, is currently experiencing its largest measles outbreak in decades, raising alarms among health officials.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has recorded 80 cases of measles in recent months, primarily affecting the community of Colorado City near the Utah border. This area is noted for having some of the lowest vaccination rates in the state of Arizona.
Statewide, Arizona has reported a total of 84 measles cases for the year, highlighting the severity of the situation in Mohave County. Concurrently, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department has confirmed 43 cases in Washington and Iron counties in Utah.
Hospitalizations due to the outbreak have been necessary for eight individuals, with five cases in Utah and three in Arizona. Health authorities in Utah have emphasized that a large proportion of those affected had not been immunized.
Both Mohave County and southwestern Utah are grappling with low vaccination rates. In Mohave County, the vaccination rate for kindergarteners receiving the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, stood at 78% last year.
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