{"id":313632,"date":"2026-10-24T23:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T23:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/313632\/"},"modified":"2026-10-24T23:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T23:06:12","slug":"pennsylvania-warns-doctors-about-congenital-measles-after-66-pregnant-women-were-infected-in-the-state-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/313632\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Warns Doctors About Congenital Measles After 66 Pregnant Women Were Infected in the State Outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania health officials are telling doctors to treat every baby born to a mother who had measles<\/a> during pregnancy as exposed to the virus, regardless of how far along the pregnancy was. The state health advisory on measles in pregnancy<\/a>, issued Oct. 19, also asks clinicians to watch these children for complications that can appear years later.<\/p>\n

The guidance comes as measles in pregnancy becomes more common in the state’s outbreak. According to NBC News, a health department spokesperson said 66 pregnant women have been diagnosed with measles since the outbreak began in April.<\/p>\n

For expectant parents in affected areas, the advisory raises practical questions. Am I immune? Is everyone at home vaccinated? What should I do within days of an exposure? The answers matter most for families with a baby due in the coming months and for relatives and caregivers who will be around the newborn.<\/p>\n

Inside the State’s New Pregnancy Guidance<\/p>\n

The advisory says congenital measles, an infection passed from mother to baby before or during birth, “has been identified for the first time in decades.” About one-third of babies born to mothers whose rash began within 14 days before delivery develop congenital measles, according to the guidance.<\/p>\n

Babies born from the time a mother’s symptoms start through 14 days after her rash should be tested, given immune globulin, and kept in airborne isolation. A negative test at birth does not fully rule out infection, so doctors are told to monitor these newborns and consider repeat testing on day 10 of life.<\/p>\n

Even babies who seem healthy may face long-term risks. The advisory warns of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal brain disease that can develop years after measles. It also notes “immune amnesia,” in which measles weakens protection against other infections. Doctors are advised to watch for seizures, loss of developmental milestones, and school difficulties as children grow.<\/p>\n

For exposed pregnant women without immunity, the advisory recommends intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) within six days of exposure. The MMR vaccine cannot be given during pregnancy, and women should avoid becoming pregnant for 28 days after vaccination. Mothers who are not immune should get the vaccine after delivery, and it is safe during breastfeeding.<\/p>\n

The state also warned that vitamin A does not prevent measles. Taking more than 10,000 IU of preformed vitamin A a day during pregnancy is linked to a substantially higher risk of birth defects.<\/p>\n

Outbreak Numbers Behind the Warning<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported<\/a> 1,286 confirmed cases across 42 counties on Oct. 19, with 247 hospitalizations and five confirmed measles-associated deaths. By Oct. 21, cases had reached 1,317 in 43 counties, and hospitalizations had risen to 251, Reuters reported, citing state data<\/a>. Only four cases involved vaccinated people.<\/p>\n

A sixth death, reported by the Franklin County coroner, remains under state review. Two infants in Lancaster County who died in August were both too young for the MMR vaccine, Spotlight PA reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The number of congenital cases is one of the biggest unknowns. Doctors told NBC News that at least six babies have been born with congenital measles in Pennsylvania, but the state has not released an official count.<\/p>\n

A CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer joined state staff on Oct. 19 to help model how far the outbreak may spread. Demand for protection is rising: providers gave more than 56,000 MMR doses in September, compared with about 25,000 in a typical month.<\/p>\n

Pregnancy leaves women with few options once they are exposed. “So pregnant women who are getting measles, obviously they can’t get the vaccine,” Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, told The Hill<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Steps for Expectant Families and Caregivers<\/p>\n

Those at greatest risk include pregnant women without immunity, newborns, and infants too young for routine vaccination. Very young babies in outbreak areas depend on the people around them for protection.<\/p>\n

Women planning a pregnancy should check their vaccine records. Adults without two documented MMR doses can talk with a clinician about vaccination or a blood test for immunity, then wait 28 days after vaccination before trying to conceive.<\/p>\n

Pregnant women who are not immune should treat any possible exposure as urgent and call a provider right away, because IVIG must be given within six days. Calling ahead before arriving also helps avoid exposing others in waiting rooms.<\/p>\n

The first measles symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A rash follows a few days later, starting at the hairline and face. Preterm labor can be a sign of infection in an exposed pregnant woman who is not immune. Trouble breathing, confusion, or severe dehydration needs emergency care.<\/p>\n

Household members who will care for a newborn should be vaccinated. The state also recommends an early MMR dose for infants 6 to 11 months old who live in or travel to counties with sustained spread, which are listed on the state measles information page<\/a>. Residents with questions can call 877-PA-HEALTH.<\/p>\n

Key Questions Answered<\/p>\n

What is congenital measles? It is a measles infection passed from a mother to her baby before or during birth.<\/p>\n

What did Pennsylvania’s new advisory change? It tells doctors to treat every baby born to a mother who had measles during pregnancy as exposed and to watch for delayed complications.<\/p>\n

How many pregnant women have had measles in Pennsylvania? A state health department spokesperson told NBC News that 66 pregnant women have been diagnosed since the outbreak began in April.<\/p>\n

Can pregnant women get the MMR vaccine? No. It should be given before pregnancy or after delivery. Pregnant women without immunity who are exposed can receive IVIG within six days.<\/p>\n

What long-term risks do exposed babies face? Doctors watch for SSPE, a rare fatal brain disease, and for weakened immunity that can raise the risk of other infections.<\/p>\n

What should a pregnant woman do after a possible exposure? If she is not immune, she should call her provider right away, because IVIG must be given within six days of exposure.<\/p>\n

Published by Medicaldaily.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania health officials are telling doctors to treat every baby born to a mother who had measles during…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":313633,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[128063,52934,28,30,99117,29,76780],"class_list":["post-313632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pennsylvania","tag-congenital-measles","tag-mmr-vaccine","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-headlines","tag-pennsylvania-measles","tag-pennsylvania-news","tag-pregnancy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313632"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313632\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}