Pa. DOH: Measles cases this year surpasses 600

Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pa. Department of Health (DOH) today announced that 624 measles cases have been confirmed across 37 counties in Pennsylvania so far this year.

The DOH continues to lead Pennsylvania’s response to the ongoing measles outbreak by providing the public with updated information on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth and helps inform the DOH’s ongoing response.

Key updates include:

• New positive cases since Sept. 8: 30
• Total counties: 37
• Total cumulative cases: 624
• Total hospitalizations: 109
• Total cumulative measles-associated deaths: 2

Pennsylvanians can stay up to date on confirmed measles cases, hospitalizations, deaths, community transmission, and vaccination efforts on DOH’s dashboard: pa.gov/measles.

Outreach and response

DOH is proactively working with residents, community organizations, and health care providers to combat the measles outbreak in Pa. through access to fact-based information and access to the MMR vaccine. 

State health officials have administered more than 4,100 MMR vaccinations at more than 120 pop-up vaccination clinics in the affected communities since the outbreak began in late April. Dozens of additional vaccine clinics are scheduled for the upcoming weeks and months, based on community interest and need. Overall, state health center staff have administered more than 6,200 MMR vaccine doses to residents across Pa. this year. 

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Health care providers have also seen a surge of interest from residents seeking MMR vaccinations. In a typical month, Pa. health care providers administer approximately 25,000 doses of the MMR vaccine. In August this year, more than 46,000 MMR vaccines were administered across the Commonwealth.

Getting vaccinated

Residents interested in getting vaccinated should talk to their trusted health care provider.

MMR vaccine is available across the state by contacting a health care provider,county or municipal health department, DOH State Health Center,Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), or a Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

Measles symptoms and transmission

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious short- and long-term health problems including pneumonia and brain swelling, with nearly 20 percent of people who are reported to have measles being hospitalized. Death from measles, though rare, occurs in one to three patients per 1,000 cases.

Measles spreads when a person who is infected breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person with the infection leaves the area.

Symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes  —conjunctivitis — followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Without proper protection or supportive care, measles can be deadly. Symptoms can start seven to 21 days after exposure.

People who believe they were exposed to measles, and are experiencing symptoms, should contact their health care provider or call DOH’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).