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Delaware confirms its first measles case in more than 10 years while cases rise in Pa.

Health officials said the case was identified in an unvaccinated man in Kent County in central Delaware.

Doses of measles vaccine are prepared at a public health fair in Greenville, S.C. in February. Delaware on Monday reported its first case of measles in more than a decade.
Doses of measles vaccine are prepared at a public health fair in Greenville, S.C. in February. Delaware on Monday reported its first case of measles in more than a decade.Read moreKAOLY GUTIERREZ / New York Times

Delaware reported Monday the state’s first case of measles in more than 10 years.

The case was identified in an unvaccinated man in Kent County in central Delaware, health officials said in a news release.

Officials said they were conducting contact tracing to determine whether anyone else had been exposed to the highly contagious disease, which can linger in the air for up to two hours and infect up to 90% of unvaccinated people who come into contact with it.

They encouraged Delawareans to ensure they are vaccinated against measles. People who have received two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are considered protected from the virus, as well as those born before 1957, or who have a lab test confirming they’re immune to measles.

People who don’t know their vaccination status can check with their primary care doctor or visit the DelVAX Public Portal to check their vaccination records. Vaccines are typically available at primary care providers, pharmacies, and public health clinics, though health officials encouraged residents to call ahead to ensure a provider has the vaccine.

Anyone with measles symptoms — a fever, cough, runny nose, or pink eye, followed by a rash — should call their primary care doctor. Those with severe symptoms should visit an emergency room; in serious cases, the virus can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death. Patients should call providers before visiting to let them know they were exposed to measles.

Cases spread in Pennsylvania

The positive test comes as Pennsylvania grapples with its biggest measles outbreak in 30 years, with 102 people sickened and 20 hospitalized since April.

On Monday, health officials reported that cases had spread to two new counties, with one case each confirmed in Indiana and Snyder Counties.

Indiana County is in western Pennsylvania. Snyder County, in central Pennsylvania, borders Northumberland County, where six cases had already been reported.

It was unclear whether those cases were connected to each other. The bulk of cases have been detected in Lancaster County, where 61 people have contracted measles since April.

In the Philadelphia region, six cases have been reported in Chester County.

    Aubrey Whelan
    Bluesky
    I write stories about public health — covering government health agencies, the opioid crisis, infectious diseases, and access to care. I also report on issues that matter to the people who work in health care.