Ten more measles cases are reported in ongoing central Pa. outbreak
So far in 2026, Pennsylvania has seen 50 cases of measles - 38 linked to an ongoing outbreak in Lancaster and three nearby counties. The state saw 16 cases of measles in all of last year.
A measles outbreak in central Pennsylvania continues to grow, with state health officials reporting 10 more cases on Wednesday — nine in Lancaster County and one in Dauphin County. So far, officials have confirmed 38 people were sickened in the southeastern and central parts of the state since late April.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health declined to provide details on the newest cases, citing patient privacy. Only two people infected recently are still contagious, health officials said in a statement, and they have been asked to isolate.
All measles cases detected in the state this year involved residents who either were not fully vaccinated against measles or whose vaccination status was unknown, officials said.
Measles is highly contagious and can infect nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with the virus, which can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
The virus’ early symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose, red and puffy eyes, and a rash. In serious cases, measles can lead to pneumonia, brain infections, and death.
The current outbreak began in Lebanon County in late April, when three patients were treated for measles at area hospitals. Contact tracing later identified several more cases.
Last week, state officials warned that anyone who had visited a Kohl’s store in Lancaster on May 21, 23, 25, or 26 could have been exposed to measles. The company confirmed to LancasterOnline that an employee there had been infected.
Health officials would not say whether the latest cases in Lancaster are linked to that potential exposure.
As of Wednesday night, Lebanon County had reported 14 cases since April. Lancaster County had 21 cases, Dauphin County had two, and Berks County had one.
In all, the state has reported 50 measles cases this year, including a 12-case outbreak that began in Lancaster this winter and spread to Montgomery and Chester Counties. Last year’s statewide total was 16 cases.
A recent Inquirer analysis found that measles vaccination rates have been dropping across the state for years.
Nearly 50 counties, including Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin, and Lancaster, were especially vulnerable, with kindergarten immunization rates below 95%, the threshold epidemiologists say is necessary to prevent the virus from spreading in a community.
In Lancaster County last school year, just 88.5% of kindergartners were vaccinated against measles, and in Dauphin County, kindergarten vaccination rates were at 86.8%.
Still, the risk of contracting measles is “extremely low” for most Pennsylvanians, health officials said, adding that they are working with healthcare providers and community leaders in areas with cases to prevent further transmission, including by hosting vaccination clinics.
Nearly 94% of kindergarten students across Pennsylvania were vaccinated against measles in the 2024-25 school year, which officials have said should help limit the number of cases in the state.
