Pennsylvania health department adds 74 measles cases, total reaches 1,078 this year
The state reported 74 new measles cases, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,078, with 207 hospitalizations and five deaths.
Pennsylvania's Department of Health announced Wednesday that 74 additional measles cases have been confirmed since Monday, raising the statewide total for 2024 to 1,078. Officials said at least 207 of the patients have been hospitalized and five have died.
"Of the 74 cases added, more than 40 represent individuals who were sick more than two weeks ago and are no longer contagious, but their cases were only recently reported and subsequently confirmed," the department noted, adding that the update does not indicate a current surge in new infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend two doses of the MMR vaccine—first administered at 12 to 15 months of age and a second dose at 4 to 6 years. One dose provides about 93% protection, while two doses increase effectiveness to roughly 97%. Infants aged 6 to 11 months in high-risk areas may receive an early third dose.
Vaccination coverage has slipped in recent years; CDC data show that 92.4% of kindergarteners received the MMR vaccine in the 2025-2026 school year, down from 95.2% in 2019-2020. In Pennsylvania, the health department has administered more than 8,800 MMR doses, including about 3,500 in August and over 2,500 in September.