Pennsylvania measles outbreak hits nearly 100 pregnant women in 2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said 97 confirmed measles cases have occurred in pregnant women in 2026, the highest number for that demographic in decades, as the state’s outbreak surpasses 1,500 total cases. The department noted that Pennsylvania has not experienced an outbreak of this magnitude in 35 years and has been providing clinical consultation for affected pregnant patients.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that measles infection during pregnancy can lead to complications such as pneumonia, death, pregnancy loss, premature delivery and low birth weight. >"You have to watch the mother-fetus dyad so closely because of the risk of fetal death," said Dr. Sharee Livingston, an obstetrician-gynecologist at UPMC Magee-Womens. She added that caring for pregnant patients with a preventable, contagious disease is a challenging situation for patients, families and providers.

If the virus is transmitted in utero, newborns may develop congenital measles, a febrile rash syndrome that can cause pneumonia, encephalitis and death. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, explained that the risk of severe neurological disease such as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is higher and can appear within months rather than years.

The CDC advises that pregnant women should not receive the MMR vaccine because it contains live virus, but they may be given immunoglobulin antibodies to reduce infection risk or lessen illness severity. Newborns of infected mothers can also receive immunoglobulin.

Obstetricians emphasized the importance of pre-conception counseling and vaccination for women planning pregnancy. >"Optimum pregnancy care for everybody, even outside of the context of a measles outbreak, is to have preconception care," said Dr. Holly W. Cummings, chair of the Pennsylvania section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She recommended that family members and caregivers stay up to date on vaccinations to protect pregnant women and infants.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health noted the lack of a national case definition for congenital measles and is working with the CDC to develop standardized reporting and tracking tools.