Pennsylvania measles outbreak keeps growing — 55 new cases since Wednesday
Pennsylvania's health department reported 55 new measles cases over two days, bringing the state total to 890, with four deaths and 173 hospitalizations linked to the outbreak so far.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday that 55 new measles cases had been confirmed since Wednesday, as officials continue efforts to contain an outbreak now spanning 39 counties. The state's total for the year has reached 890 confirmed cases, with 173 hospitalizations and four measles-associated deaths reported.
State data shows fewer than 1% of cases occurred in people who had been vaccinated against measles, while 31% of cases involve people under 18. Lancaster County has recorded the highest case count in the state, with 359 confirmed infections.
Officials said the department continues working with residents, community organizations and healthcare providers to combat the outbreak by providing access to accurate information and the MMR vaccine.
Political dispute over deaths
The update followed comments from US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a longtime vaccine skeptic, who suggested on social media that the measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania "may even have been altogether fabricated" for political reasons. In August, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instructed staff not to include two of Pennsylvania's reported measles deaths in the national tally, citing an ongoing review of additional information.
Since the outbreak began in late April, state health workers have administered more than 5,300 MMR vaccine doses at 165 pop-up clinics in affected communities, part of over 7,900 MMR doses given statewide this year. Additional clinics are planned in the coming weeks and months, and healthcare providers report a surge in resident interest in getting vaccinated.
The DOH reiterated that full vaccination remains the best protection, noting the MMR vaccine provides 97% lifetime protection. Measles is highly contagious and, while death is rare, occurs in one to three cases per 1,000. The disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 but has since resurfaced in under-vaccinated communities. According to the CDC, more than 3,659 confirmed measles cases have been reported nationwide this year as of 24 September, compared with 2,289 for all of 2025.
