Pennsylvania's measles outbreak is the largest in decades in the US

Pennsylvania has witnessed an alarming measles outbreak, surpassing 1,000 cases this year, according to state health officials who disclosed this on Monday. This marks the largest state outbreak in over three decades, with the United States experiencing its worst year for measles since 1991, as reported by the CDC. Nearly 3,900 measles cases have been reported nationwide, resulting in eight reported measles-associated deaths in the past two years, surpassing the combined total of reported deaths over the previous three decades.

Multiple large outbreaks have been documented in several states, including Texas, Utah, and South Carolina, which reported the highest number of cases with 997 reported. Pennsylvania's current outbreak began in April, west of Philadelphia, with a total of 1,004 cases, including 198 hospitalizations and five deaths. Health experts attribute such outbreaks to low vaccination rates, which have dropped below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks since the nation eliminated domestic spread of measles in 2000.