HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN CO. (WOLF) — Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak continues to grow rapidly, with the state now reporting 307 cases so far this year and 60 new cases in just the past seven days.
The latest figures were posted Monday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on its measles dashboard, which tracks confirmed cases by county, age, hospitalization and vaccination status.
The new total represents another significant increase in an outbreak that has accelerated throughout the summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 280 Pennsylvania cases as of Aug. 13, meaning the state’s more recently updated dashboard is already showing a higher total. Pennsylvania has emerged as one of the country’s measles hot spots this summer.
Lancaster County remains the center of the outbreak, accounting for 162 of Pennsylvania’s 307 cases — more than half of the statewide total. Chester County has reported 37 cases, followed by Lebanon County with 20, Mifflin County with 17 and York County with 15.
In NEPA:
Northumberland County — 7Snyder County — 6Columbia County — 1Lycoming County — 1All other NEPA counties — 0
Other counties reporting cases include Centre and Northumberland counties with seven each; Jefferson and Snyder counties with six each; Berks and Indiana counties with four each; Montgomery and Dauphin counties with three each; Clarion and Lehigh counties with two each; and Bedford, Clearfield, Columbia, Huntingdon and Lycoming counties with one each.
Geisinger is also warning of a potential measles exposure at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. The health system said a visitor with a high suspicion of measles was on the hospital campus between 1 p.m. Aug. 12 and 9 p.m. Aug. 13.
The person was in several areas, including the Emergency Department waiting room, Pediatric Emergency Department, second floor of Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, GMC Atrium and Fluoroscopy. Anyone who was in those locations during the identified period is being advised to monitor for measles symptoms and contact their primary care provider with questions or concerns.
Geisinger has also implemented additional precautions at entrances to its Central Region facilities in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union and Schuylkill counties. Patients and visitors may see additional signage and be asked about possible exposure, symptoms and vaccination status.
The outbreak has also resulted in dozens of hospitalizations. State data show 53 people with measles have been hospitalized this year. No deaths have been reported.
About 34% of Pennsylvania’s cases involve people younger than 18. The state’s age data show cases are most heavily concentrated among adults between 18 and 49.
Vaccination status is another major feature of the outbreak. The state dashboard indicates none of the people included in the current case count were fully vaccinated. Health officials have repeatedly emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective protection against measles. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing the disease.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has been holding vaccination clinics and working with health care providers and communities affected by the outbreak. Officials have said the overall risk remains low for people who are fully vaccinated.
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms generally include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically begins on the head and spreads downward.
The state’s outbreak comes amid elevated measles activity nationwide. The CDC reported 2,566 confirmed cases across the United States as of Aug. 13.
Pennsylvania’s measles dashboard is updated several times each week as new cases are confirmed.