BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. – The Bucks County Health Department confirmed an adult case of measles on Friday. The individual had recently traveled to central Pennsylvania, where health officials have been tracking a growing outbreak.
Statewide context
Pennsylvania is currently experiencing a significant measles surge, contributing to a national total that has surpassed 5,000 confirmed cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reports 5,182 cases across 45 states and Washington, D.C., with 18 of those cases involving international visitors.
Eight measles‑related deaths have been documented in 2026 so far: six in Pennsylvania, one in New York and one in Wisconsin. The Pennsylvania deaths include an unvaccinated resident of Jefferson County and a recent infant fatality in Wisconsin, the first such death in that state since 1990.
Vaccination status
Approximately 96% of the reported cases nationwide involve people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Only about 2% of cases have occurred in individuals who received a single dose of the measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine, and another 2% involve those who have received the recommended two doses.
The CDC continues to recommend a two‑dose MMR schedule: the first dose at 12‑15 months of age and the second dose between four and six years, ideally before school entry. One dose provides about 93% protection, while two doses raise effectiveness to roughly 97%.
Impact on children
A plurality of cases have been recorded among people aged 5 to 19. Hospitalizations have occurred in at least 11% of all cases, including more than one in ten children under five years old.
Vaccination coverage trends
Recent CDC data show that vaccination rates have slipped in recent years. During the 2025‑26 school year, 92.4% of kindergarteners in the United States received the MMR vaccine, down from 95.2% in the 2019‑20 school year, prior to the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Health officials continue to urge residents to verify their vaccination status and to seek the MMR vaccine if they have not completed the two‑dose series. Prompt reporting of suspected measles symptoms and cooperation with local health departments remain critical tools in containing the outbreak.
What residents can do
Anyone who suspects they have been exposed to measles or who develops fever, rash, or other related symptoms should contact their health care provider or local health department immediately. The Bucks County Health Department offers resources and guidance for vaccination and disease prevention on its website.
ABC News contributed to this report.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
