Measles Strikes Again: What's Happening in Arizona?

Measles, a serious and highly contagious disease, has shown up again in Arizona. This time, it's inside a detention center. A person held at the Florence Detention Center has been diagnosed with measles. The Department of Homeland Security shared this news. They said the Arizona Public Health Department confirmed the case. The detention center quickly took action. They stopped all movement inside the facility. They also put people who might have come into contact with the infected person in quarantine. This is to stop the virus from spreading further. Since the first case, two more measles cases have been found in Pinal County. The local health department is working with state partners. They are following standard health protocols. Right now, they say the risk to the general public is low.The Florence Detention Center is run by a private company called CoreCivic. They provide health care to detainees. This includes screening, prevention, and treatment. The company says the health and safety of detainees is their top priority. They work with ICE and local hospitals to make sure everyone gets the care they need. This isn't the first time measles has been a problem in this area. In 2016, there was a big outbreak at an ICE detention center. Over 30 detainees and nine staff members got sick. This year, Arizona has seen 25 measles cases so far. Measles cases are rising across the US. Last year, there were 2, 242 cases. That's the most since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. So far this year, there have been at least 416 confirmed cases. This is a big jump from the average of about 180 cases per year before 2025.