Pennsylvania's measles outbreak tops 1,000 cases, largest in over three decades
Pennsylvania has confirmed more than 1,000 measles cases this year, the state's largest outbreak in over 30 years, as neighboring New York declares a state of emergency.
Pennsylvania health officials announced Monday that confirmed measles cases have reached 1,004 this year, marking the state's biggest outbreak in more than three decades. Five residents have died from the disease and 198 have been hospitalized.
Lancaster county, home to large Amish and Mennonite communities, has been hit hardest with 391 cases. Infections have climbed over the past three months, with people aged 24 to 49 accounting for the highest share of cases.
These figures are not reflected in national CDC data because of an ongoing disagreement between Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro and US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr over how measles-related deaths should be classified. Shapiro has called Kennedy incompetent, while Kennedy has publicly questioned whether the state's reported deaths were directly caused by measles. The CDC currently lists only two measles deaths nationwide this year.
Shapiro has widened access to MMR vaccination in affected communities and urged residents in August to take the outbreak seriously and consult trusted healthcare providers.
New York also declared a state of emergency on Monday, where governor Kathy Hochul cited 108 cases as of early October. Ohio, which borders Pennsylvania and also has a sizeable Amish population, has reported more than 200 cases this year.
The US is experiencing its worst measles year since 1991, with the CDC recording 3,887 confirmed cases nationwide as of October 1. Other states with active outbreaks include Texas, Utah and South Carolina, where nearly 1,000 cases have been reported.
Health officials trace Pennsylvania's outbreak to low vaccination rates, with the spread beginning in April west of Philadelphia. Measles transmission within the US was declared eliminated in 2000 thanks to high vaccination coverage, but rates have since dropped below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. International health officials are set to meet in November to decide whether the US and Mexico should lose their measles-free status.
