Active Public Health Outbreaks in Arizona

Surveillance Report • November 30, 2025

CRITICAL ALERT: E. coli O157 Outbreak

Status: Active Investigation (November 2025)
Suspected Source: Arizona State Fair Petting Zoo

A severe outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) has emerged following the Arizona State Fair. While official county investigations are ongoing, patient advocacy groups report significantly higher numbers than initial official tallies.

OFFICIAL CONFIRMED (Initial) ADVOCACY GROUP REPORTED
~15
~186 Potential Cases

Data Source: Maricopa County Dept. of Public Health vs. Parker's Promise (Non-profit)

Severity: Multiple hospitalizations reported, including cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) in children. The disparity in reporting highlights a lag between rapid community self-reporting and confirmed laboratory diagnostics.

Measles Resurgence

Arizona is currently experiencing its largest measles outbreak in years, with Mohave County identified as a new epicenter. The outbreak is driven by declining vaccination rates in school-aged children.

2021 Total 67 Cases
2025 (YTD) 153+ Cases
Key Contrast: While national attention often focuses on international travelers, this outbreak is sustaining local transmission due to pockets of low immunization (e.g., <90% coverage).

Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)

Following a record-breaking 2024, cases remain historically high in 2025. Dry weather conditions have facilitated the dispersal of fungal spores.

Region 2024 Cases 2025 Trend
Maricopa ~9,744 High Sustained
Statewide 14,000+ Surpassing 5-yr Avg

Note: 2024 saw a 45% increase over 2023. 2025 data indicates no return to baseline.

Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Monitoring

West Nile Virus

55
Confirmed Cases (Maricopa)

2025 Season: Significantly more active than 2024 (which had ~21 cases by this time).
7 Deaths confirmed.

Avian Flu (H5N1)

Detected
Wastewater & Dairy

Status: Virus found in Maricopa County wastewater (Phoenix, Tempe) and local dairy herds.
Human risk remains low.

Pertussis

High
9-Year Peak

Trend: "Whooping Cough" has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 2025 seeing the highest activity since 2015.

Food Safety Alerts (Active Recalls)

  • Infant Formula (Botulism): Arizona is one of 10 states involved in a November 2025 investigation regarding infant botulism linked to formula.
  • Salmonella (Eggs): A multistate outbreak linked to "Country Eggs, LLC" (August 2025) affected Arizona consumers. Product recalls remain relevant for long-shelf-life items.