Health officials say the majority of patients are unvaccinated, stressing the importance of the MMR vaccine
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NEED TO KNOW
- Pennsylvania is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in decades, with 890 cases confirmed across 39 counties
- Health officials report fewer than 1% of cases involve vaccinated individuals, highlighting the importance of the MMR vaccine
- Measles cases nationwide have hit a 35-year high, with over 3,600 cases reported across 47 states this year
Nearly 900 cases of measles have been confirmed in Pennsylvania as the state continues to deal with the largest outbreak in decades.
On Friday, Sept. 25, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that 890 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 counties in Pennsylvania so far this year, including 173 hospitalizations and 4 deaths.
“While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth and helps inform the Department’s ongoing response,” the department said.
Health officials noted that fewer than 1% of those cases involve individuals who are vaccinated, emphasizing the importance of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Additionally, 31% of cases involve patients under age 18.
Credit: Jan Sonnenmair/Getty
Measles is a highly contagious airborne viral infection that can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. People can also be infected by breathing contaminated air, where it remains infectious for up to two hours, or by touching their mouth, eyes, or nose after coming in contact with a contaminated surface.
Health officials stress that the best protection against measles is the two-dose MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective in preventing the disease.
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