LEHIGH CO., Pa. – As measles cases in Pennsylvania surge, the Lehigh County is seeing its first few, including a pediatric case.
According to the PA measles dashboard, two cases have been identified in the county.
St. Lukes released an advisory Monday saying that the hospital is also treating its first pediatric case, according to St. Luke’s and Pediatrician Jennifer Janco, MD, Chair of St. Luke’s Pediatric Department.
Over 170 have been reported in the whole state.
Measles is a very contagious disease that can cause a rash, fever, runny nose and cough.
Doctors say the best way to prevent measles is with the MMR vaccine.
Over the past few months, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) identified and is actively responding to a measles outbreak involving 164 people across Bedford County (1 case), Berks (4 cases), Chester (19 cases), Dauphin (2 cases), Indiana (3 cases), Lancaster (96 cases), Lebanon (20 cases), Lehigh (2 cases), Mifflin (1 case), Northumberland (7 cases), Perry County (1 case), Snyder (1 case) and York (7 cases) counties, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
DOH says it is working closely with health care providers and local communities to directly combat this measles outbreak. DOH continues hosting targeted public health initiatives, with more than 840 MMR vaccinations administered at pop-up community clinics in the impacted area since measles cases were identified in late April. Additional vaccine clinics are currently planned for the region.
The statement says as part of its broader measles response, DOH is focusing on health care provider education and community protection. The Department recently issued a Health Alert Network message to health care providers outlining the classic signs and symptoms of measles and reminding clinicians to encourage patients to stay up to date on their immunizations. So far in 2026, state health center staff have administered more than 2,000 MMR vaccine doses to residents across the Commonwealth.
DOH says it is important for Pennsylvanians to know that the overall risk remains low if you are fully vaccinated, thanks to high MMR vaccination rates across the Commonwealth. Based on data from the 2024–2025 school year, nearly 94% of Pennsylvania kindergarten students had received both required doses of the MMR vaccine.
Because two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing infection, Pennsylvania’s robust baseline immunity is a critical line of defense that will help limit the number of cases compared to regions with lower vaccination coverage, according to officials.
In total, DOH has confirmed 176 measles cases in the Commonwealth so far in 2026. As of August 3, the cumulative totals by county stand at:
Ongoing measles situation (late April – present)
Previous measles cases (January – March)
Pennsylvanians can learn more about measles, and DOH’s response, by visiting pa.gov/measles.