Measles Case Confirmed at Florence Detention Center
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed a measles case involving a detainee at the Florence Detention Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Arizona. The individual is identified as a Mexican national.
Response and Local Impact
Following the confirmation by the Arizona Public Health Department, ICE Health Services Corp initiated immediate quarantine measures to prevent further spread. This included ceasing all movement within the facility and quarantining individuals suspected of contact with the infected person.
ICE Health Services Corp initiated immediate quarantine measures to prevent further spread.
Since the initial case, Pinal County has identified two additional measles cases, bringing the county's total to three. Jassmin Castro, a spokesperson for the Pinal County Public Health Services District (PCPHSD), stated that the district is implementing standard public health protocols in coordination with state partners.
PCPHSD assesses the overall risk to the general community as low.
CoreCivic, the private company operating the Florence Detention Center, stated that the health and safety of detainees is a top priority. They work closely with ICE to provide healthcare services, including screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Detainees have daily access to medical and mental health services, with emergency care available 24/7.
Broader Measles Context
This is not the first instance of a measles outbreak in a Pinal County ICE detention center. A 2016 incident resulted in over 30 cases among detainees and nine staff members, according to a CDC report.
Statewide, Arizona has reported 25 measles cases since the beginning of this year. Dr. Joel Terriquez, medical director for the state's Bureau of Infectious Diseases and Bureau of Immunizations, noted that three cases are from Pinal County, 17 are linked to an ongoing Mohave outbreak, three are in Maricopa County, and one is in Pima County.
Nationally, 2,242 measles infections were recorded last year, significantly more than any year since the disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000. Prior to 2025, the US averaged approximately 180 reported measles cases annually. So far this year, at least 416 confirmed measles cases have been reported across the United States.