Adult measles cases in Lancaster County require hospital care as outbreak expands
Health officials report several adult patients with severe measles complications have been hospitalized amid a growing outbreak that has now reached more than 40 cases in Lancaster County.
A regional measles outbreak in Pennsylvania has led to a number of adult patients being admitted to Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center for serious complications, including electrolyte disturbances, kidney and liver dysfunction, and abnormal blood counts. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Fahmida McGann told a press conference that adults may experience more severe illness than children, noting that adults often continue working while sick, increasing exposure risk.
State health officials said the outbreak now includes 41 confirmed cases in Lancaster County since late April and a total of 84 cases statewide this year, with most patients unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status. Dr. Debra Bogen, the state Secretary of Health, emphasized that two doses of the measles vaccine provide about 97% protection and warned that an unvaccinated person has a roughly 90% chance of contracting the disease after exposure.
The Department of Health announced that 430 people have been vaccinated in the past two months, primarily in Lancaster and neighboring counties, and that pop-up clinics will continue while needed, though specific locations were not disclosed to protect patient privacy. A health alert also advised clinicians to administer the first measles vaccine to infants as early as six months in affected areas and to ensure unvaccinated children receive the recommended two-dose series.
Dr. McGann urged eligible individuals to get vaccinated, citing protection for families and vulnerable populations such as newborns and patients undergoing treatment for serious medical conditions.