Maricopa County faces measles outbreak in decades

MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. (CNN, KYMA) - Public health officials in Arizona are warning of the biggest measles outbreak Maricopa County has seen in about three decades.

15 cases have been confirmed so far this year, with several possible exposures linked to events at a sports complex in Mesa.

Health experts say the highly contagious virus can start with fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes before a rash appears.

Doctors say falling vaccination rates are raising the risk of further community spread.

"That low immunization rate means that the potential for ongoing transmission in the community is there," said Dr. Nick Staab, Chief Medical Officer for Maricopa County.

They're urging families to make sure they're up to date on measles shots, saying the vaccine remains the most effective protection.

"We're obviously alarmed by the fact that now we're seeing, you know, transmission of the measles virus within the community," said Dr. Wassim Ballan, pediatric infectious disease specialist.

People who are not vaccinated are also being told to watch closely for symptoms and isolate if they get sick.