Measles cases surpass 1,000 in Pennsylvania amid state's largest outbreak in decades
Measles cases in Pennsylvania have surpassed 1,000 so far this year as the state continues to battle an outbreak of the virus, according to the state health department.
In Pennsylvania, measles cases have surpassed 1,000, marking the state's largest outbreak in decades. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,004 measles cases across 39 counties, with at least 198 people hospitalized and five deaths attributed to the virus. Two deaths were among unvaccinated adults, while three others were infants who were too young to receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Lancaster County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, has been the hotspot, accounting for 391 confirmed cases. The CDC expressed deep sorrow over the fifth death, stating they were deeply saddened to hear of another loss. CDC officials are available to provide support to Pennsylvania in their efforts to control the outbreak. In contrast, the U.S. has seen a total of 3,800 measles cases in 2026, with cases confirmed in 45 states and Washington, D.C., marking the highest number since 1991.
CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for optimal protection, but vaccination rates have declined in recent years, with only 92.4% of kindergartners receiving the vaccine in the 2025-2026 school year. Pennsylvania administered over 8,800 doses of the MMR vaccine, with a significant portion given in August and September.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News (US)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
