Coconino County confirms second measles case, identifies new public exposure sites
FLAGSTAFF
Coconino County Health and Human Services has confirmed that a second Coconino County resident has tested positive for measles, prompting officials to identify more public exposure locations in Page and Tuba City.
The county announced the new case March 30. It follows the first confirmed measles case of 2026, which was announced March 20.
Health officials said they are working with state and local partners to notify people who may have been exposed. Anyone who was at the listed locations during the identified dates and times may have been exposed and should monitor for signs and symptoms of illness.
Possible exposures in Page were linked to Page Unified School District bus routes 3 and 6 from March 23-25 during morning and afternoon transportation times, according to the county. The routes include stops at Page High, Manson Mesa High, Page Middle School, Desert View Elementary, Lake View Primary and Page Early Childhood Learning Center.
People who may have been exposed in that setting should watch for symptoms through April 16, according to the county.
Additional exposure was reported at Manson Mesa High School, 500 S. Navajo Drive in Page, on March 23, 24 and 25 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:40 p.m.
Those who were there during those times should also monitor for symptoms through April 16.
Another possible exposure site was identified at the Tuba City Regional Health Care Emergency Room Department on Friday, March 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Tuba City.
People who were there during that time should watch for symptoms through April 18.
The alert comes with added urgency because measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, especially for babies and young children.
Symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles typically starts with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots known as Koplik spots may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after the first symptoms, a rash usually develops, beginning as flat red spots on the face at the hairline before spreading downward over the rest of the body. When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike above 104 degrees.
The CDC warns that measles can be serious in all age groups, but children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of complications.
Those complications can include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia and encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the United States who get measles is hospitalized, according to the CDC.
County officials said people who believe they or their children may have been exposed should watch closely for symptoms. The CDC advises calling a health care provider immediately if exposure is suspected.
The county’s latest notice expands the list of possible exposure sites in northern Arizona as health officials work to contain the spread of the illness and warn residents to remain alert.
Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow