No confirmed cases in Sedona; one case reported in Prescott
Wastewater samples from the city of Sedona’s Wastewater Reclamation Plant taken on July 7 and 9 have tested positive for the measles virus, Yavapai County Community Health Services and Coconino County Health and Human Services announced July 13.
“A positive wastewater test does not automatically mean there is a local outbreak,” YCCHS spokeswoman Jailine Villalobos said. “It does tell us that one or more people with a recent measles infection have been in the Sedona area. It could be a tourist, it could be someone vacationing or it could be a local resident. It doesn’t directly link to someone with an outbreak.”
Since August, Arizona has reported 332 total measles cases, centered on the Mohave County community of Colorado City. However, the Arizona Department of Health Services announced on June 10 that that outbreak was over and the community went 42 days without a new case.
Measles cases statewide since August have led to 25 hospitalizations, with 96% of cases of unvaccinated individuals. Two-thirds of cases are children younger than 18, according to the ADHS dashboard.
“When a person is infected with measles, they shed the virus in their bodily fluids, including their urine,” Villalobos said. “The shedding can happen several days before they ever develop the characteristic measles rash, and it can continue for several weeks afterward. Our partners at the Arizona Department of Health Services monitor wastewater across the state as an early detection tool for infectious diseases.”
The city of Sedona started participating in the ADHS surveillance program in November, and there was one instance in 2025 where measles was detected in Sedona Wastewater Reclamation Plant samples, however the follow-up test did not detect measles, according to city spokeswoman Julie Graham.
Aside from public health notices issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, neither county has previously issued an alert specific to a wastewater detection at the Sedona plant, according to Graham.
The symptoms of measles tend to appear about a week to three weeks after exposure, and include:
- Blotchy rash
- High fever
- Cough
- Exhaustion and aches
- Red, watery eyes
- Runny nose
Coconino County had one case of measles in 2025 and four so far in 2026. YCCHS announced on Wednesday, July 15, that one new measles case has been confirmed in the Prescott area. There were no confirmed cases in Yavapai County in 2025.
“Unvaccinated individuals are at highest risk of developing the disease if exposed,” YCCHS Director Leslie Horton wrote May 31, when announcing a confirmed measles case in Prescott. “The best protection against measles is to receive the measles vaccine.”
People who are not certain of their vaccination status may contact their medical provider to verify their medical records and to get tested for measles antibodies. You can also contact the YCCHS Clinic at 928-639-8130 or the CCHHS Clinic at 928-679-7222. Visit azdhs.gov/measles for more information.
