Pennsylvania Measles Cases Jump Again—but Allegheny County Still Has No Confirmed Cases

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania's measles outbreak continued to accelerate in late September, newly updated state data show, even as Allegheny County remained without a confirmed case.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 835 confirmed measles cases statewide as of Sept. 23, the last day the dashboard was updated, an increase of 111 in a single week. The update came weeks after Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly sparred over the Keystone State's measles reporting.

Lancaster County remained the outbreak's center, with 342 confirmed cases. Two measles-associated deaths were reported there in August. While Allegheny County had no cases among residents, nearby counties were seeing illness: Armstrong, 2; Beaver, 0; Butler, 1 (diagnosed Aug. 25 according to a hospital spokesperson and not listed on the state dashboard as of Sept. 23); Fayette, 0; Lawrence, 0; Washington, 0; and Westmoreland, 2.

State health officials said community transmission had been confirmed in Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Indiana, Jefferson, Lancaster, Mifflin, Snyder, Somerset, Union and York counties.

The outbreak's severity is reflected in vaccination data and hospitalizations. More than 99% of cases occurred in people who were not fully vaccinated, while fewer than 1% occurred in people who were fully vaccinated. A total of 164 people had been hospitalized.

As of Sept. 23, Pennsylvania had confirmed four measles-associated deaths. Two people lived in Lancaster County, one in Jefferson County and one in Mifflin County, according to the health department. The first two deaths, both infants, were confirmed by the state on Aug. 25, NPR reported. The state confirmed two more on Sept. 15: a 40-year-old woman with an active infection and an 18-year-old with a rare neurological complication from measles. None were vaccinated. Before 2026, Pennsylvania had gone about 35 years without a measles-associated death, officials said.

In Allegheny County, no confirmed cases had been reported among residents as of Sept. 23, and Pittsburgh also had no confirmed cases. But the region has not been free of exposure concerns. UPMC Children's Hospital patients were exposed multiple times in August when out-of-county residents infected with measles visited the hospital, according to the Allegheny County Health Department.

Exposures occurred Aug. 12 and Aug. 18 when a patient visited the emergency department, officials said. Additional exposures happened Aug. 27, when multiple groups at UPMC Children's were exposed:

• Giraffe/Hippo Waiting Room, third floor, 1-4 p.m.
• Giraffe Clinic, third floor, 2-5 p.m.
• Cafeteria, third floor, 3-5 p.m.
• Main lobby, first floor, 1-5 p.m.
• Grape/Purple Elevators, 1-5 p.m.

Public health experts say such exposures illustrate why measles is so difficult to contain. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after that person leaves. It can sicken up to nine out of 10 unprotected people who come into close contact with an infected person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unvaccinated people are most at risk. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provide about 97% immunity against measles, the CDC says. Young children typically do not receive their second dose until age 4 to 6, leaving them with roughly 93% protection after one dose. Infants generally do not get their first dose until 12 to 15 months old. The CDC notes that infants 6 to 11 months old can receive a dose if they are traveling outside the United States, though they should still get two additional doses at the recommended ages for long-term protection.

Measles symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus, though the incubation period can last up to 21 days. Symptoms can include high fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth, and a rash that starts on the face at the hairline and moves downward. Complications can include ear infections, diarrhea, lasting immune system damage, hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis, pregnancy problems and death.

People who think they were exposed to measles and are experiencing symptoms should contact a healthcare provider. Allegheny County residents worried about possible exposures can call the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-2243. Pennsylvania residents concerned about potential exposures can call the Pennsylvania Department of Health's toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH. The state's measles dashboard, current guidance and additional information are available at pa.gov/measles.

Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at [email protected]. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: PA measles cases jump again, but virus is still skipping Allegheny