The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) announced Monday that the state’s measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases for 2026, the largest surge in decades. The tally now stands at 1,004 cases spread across 39 counties, with Lancaster County remaining the epicenter, accounting for 391 infections.
Hospitalizations have risen to at least 198, and five measles‑associated deaths have been recorded. Two of the fatalities involved unvaccinated adults—a 18‑year‑old and a 40‑year‑old—while two were infants too young to receive the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. The fifth death occurred in an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County, though the individual’s age was not disclosed.
Public‑health response
Following the latest death, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement expressing deep sadness and reaffirming its readiness to assist Pennsylvania if requested. The CDC noted that it has already deployed rapid response teams, known as Epi‑Aids, to Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin, helping those states bring their outbreaks under control.
“CDC has not received a formal Epi‑Aid request from Pennsylvania. If requested, CDC stands ready to deploy epidemiologists to support the state’s identified needs,” the statement read.
Vaccination rates and recommendations
State data show that fewer than 1% of the measles cases involve individuals who are fully vaccinated with the two‑dose MMR series. The CDC continues to recommend two doses of the MMR vaccine—first at 12 to 15 months of age and the second between four and six years. One dose provides about 93% effectiveness, while two doses raise protection to roughly 97%.
Infants aged six to 11 months who live in or travel to high‑risk outbreak areas may receive an early third dose of the MMR vaccine, according to CDC guidance.
Declining school‑age vaccination coverage
Recent school‑year data reveal a drop in kindergarten MMR coverage. During the 2025‑2026 school year, 92.4% of kindergartners received the vaccine, down from 95.2% in the 2019‑2020 school year, before the COVID‑19 pandemic disrupted routine immunizations.
In response, the Pennsylvania DOH has administered more than 8,800 MMR doses this year, with roughly 3,500 given in August and over 2,500 in September, as part of an intensified outreach effort.
National context
Nationwide, measles cases have exceeded 3,800 in 2026, confirmed in 45 states and Washington, D.C.—the highest total since 1991. Health officials stress that maintaining high vaccination rates remains the most effective tool to curb the spread of this highly contagious disease.
Families are urged to verify their children’s vaccination status and to seek the MMR series if they have not yet completed it. Local health departments continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as the outbreak evolves.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
