Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania has surpassed 1,000 measles cases this year, making the state’s outbreak the largest in more than three decades as measles infections continue rising across the United States.
State health officials reported 1,004 cases, including 198 hospitalizations and five deaths, in an outbreak that began in April in an area west of Philadelphia. The development comes as the U.S. experiences its worst year for measles since 1991, with nearly 3,900 reported cases nationwide.
The continuing spread has renewed concerns about declining vaccination rates and the potential for outbreaks in communities where fewer people are protected against the highly contagious virus.
Pennsylvania Outbreak Reaches Historic Level
It has been decades since a U.S. state experienced a measles outbreak exceeding 1,000 cases.
The last comparable event dates to a multiyear outbreak in New York City during the early 1990s, when more than 4,500 people were infected.
The United States officially eliminated domestic measles transmission in 2000 after maintaining vaccination coverage high enough to prevent sustained outbreaks. However, vaccination rates have fallen in recent years, dropping below the 95% coverage generally considered necessary to prevent outbreaks.
Health experts have linked the recent increase in cases to lower vaccination rates, along with barriers to health care and the spread of misinformation about vaccines.
Measles Cases Are Rising Across the Country
Pennsylvania is not the only state experiencing a significant increase.
Large outbreaks have also been reported in Texas, Utah and South Carolina, with South Carolina previously recording the largest outbreak at 997 cases.
Ohio has also reported more than 200 cases this year, with some of the hardest-hit counties having significant Amish populations where vaccination rates tend to be lower.
The nationwide total has approached 3,900 reported measles cases, making this the worst year for U.S. measles infections since 1991.
The country has also recorded eight reported measles-associated deaths over the past two years, exceeding the combined number of reported deaths during the previous three decades.
New York Declares Measles Emergency
The growing outbreak has also prompted action in neighboring New York. New York’s governor declared a disaster emergency Monday because of measles cases in neighboring states and rural areas of New York, where more than 100 cases have been reported this year.
The executive order expands the group of people who can administer measles vaccines to include paramedics, midwives and others. It also allows nurses to join doctors in ordering measles testing.
The move comes as officials continue monitoring the possibility of infections spreading between states.
Measles Is Highly Contagious
Measles is among the most contagious infectious diseases. The virus spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and it can also spread through contaminated surfaces. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area.
According to the CDC, as many as 9 out of 10 susceptible people can become infected after exposure.
That high level of contagiousness makes vaccination coverage particularly important for preventing outbreaks and protecting people who cannot be vaccinated or who remain vulnerable to infection.
Pennsylvania Deaths Raise Questions
Pennsylvania officials announced in August that two unvaccinated residents had died after contracting measles.
The announcement was followed by a public dispute involving Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the response to measles and vaccination.
Since that announcement, Pennsylvania has reported three additional deaths, bringing the state’s reported total to five.
For weeks, however, the CDC did not initially include Pennsylvania’s deaths on its measles data dashboard, saying the agency was seeking additional information.
The federal tally was later updated, with one Pennsylvania death added about two weeks ago and a second added last week.
U.S. Could Face Another Major Measles Milestone
The growing number of cases has raised broader concerns about whether the United States can maintain its measles elimination status.
International health officials are expected to meet in November to determine whether the United States and Mexico have lost their measles-free status.
For now, Pennsylvania remains at the center of the country’s worsening outbreak, with more than 1,000 cases reported in a single state for the first time in decades.
Have measles cases or vaccination concerns affected your community? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know how your area is responding to the growing outbreak.
