HERSHEY, Pa. —
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center temporarily implemented safety precautions related to possible measles symptoms, according to a Penn State Health spokesperson.
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The precautions began shortly after 10 p.m. and were lifted at approximately 12:30 a.m. Patient-care operations continued normally throughout the response.
Officials did not say whether a case of measles had been confirmed.
“At no time was the Emergency Department on lockdown,” the spokesperson said.
Measles symptoms protocol
Penn State Health explained the guidelines and protocol for individuals experiencing measles symptoms, saying:
“Signage outside our hospitals, including our emergency departments, instructs individuals who may have measles symptoms to call before entering the building. In the event someone enters despite those guidelines, we follow established safety protocols designed to protect patients, visitors and staff.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, those measures may include temporarily relocating individuals from affected areas, providing masks and escorting patients and visitors along controlled pathways through portions of the hospital as needed.”
Pennsylvania reports 1,222 measles cases
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,222 confirmed cases across 42 counties in 2026, including 86 new cases since Oct. 9.
The department reported:
1,222 cumulative cases225 hospitalizationsFive confirmed measles-associated deathsFour cases among vaccinated people, representing less than 1% of reported cases
The Health Department is also investigating the reported death of a Franklin County resident to determine whether it meets the state’s definition of a “measles-associated death.”
The department said such a classification requires clinical evidence of measles, a positive laboratory test and death within 30 days of symptom onset, unless the death resulted from an unrelated cause.
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