Earlier measles exposure at Mesa clinic revealed

An unknown number of people may have been exposed to the measles Jan. 11 at the Phoenix Children's East Valley Center in Mesa, The Republic has learned.

This exposure, which is in Maricopa County, involved a resident of Pinal County, a Pinal County official said during an interview with The Republic.

This exposure is in addition to the Jan. 20-21 measles exposure at the same center that Maricopa County reported to the media.

The Jan. 20-21 incident may have exposed 195 people. When asked about the Jan. 11 exposure, Maricopa County officials said it was a smaller exposure, involving fewer people. They said that initial exposure was handled by officials from Phoenix Children's Hospital, which is connected to the center.

Jane Walton, a spokeswoman for the hospital, told The Republic on Friday she is researching the Jan. 11 exposure.

To date, Arizona has seven confirmed cases of the measles.

Five of the cases involve residents of Pinal County, the other two of Maricopa County.

An estimated 1,000 people may have been exposed to the measles through these cases.