Pennsylvania's record measles outbreak

Pennsylvania reported one thousand seventy-eight measles cases in twenty twenty-six, the largest outbreak in the US since measles was declared eliminated in two thousand.

Outbreak timeline and scale

The outbreak began in April with one thousand sixty-six cases. Health officials recorded one hundred forty-five cases in the last seven days and seventy-four since Monday, including forty cases from more than two weeks prior.

Deaths and hospitalizations

Pennsylvania measles cases included two hundred seven hospitalizations and five deaths: a newborn, a six-week-old, an eighteen-year-old, a twenty-year-old, and a forty-year-old. All deaths occurred in unvaccinated people.

Measles elimination status at risk

Measles was declared eliminated in the US in two thousand after decades of vaccination efforts. In November, the Pan American Health Organization will review whether the US has lost its elimination status. Experts widely expect it has.

New York declares disaster emergency

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency over rising measles cases, with at least one hundred eight cases in the state. The declaration expands who can vaccinate and test for measles.

“No one should get seriously ill or die from a vaccine-preventable disease.”

National cases reach highest since nineteen ninety-one

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported three thousand eight hundred eighty-seven measles cases nationwide for the year, the highest tally since nineteen ninety-one when there were nine thousand six hundred forty-three cases. Experts worry spread could accelerate in fall.