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Health officials in Pennsylvania have confirmed an additional ten cases of measles in the Susquehanna Valley, bringing the state's total to 60 cases this year. The latest outbreak includes nine new cases in Lancaster County and one in Dauphin County. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has identified a potential exposure site at a Kohl's store in Lancaster, where an infected individual may have exposed others between May 21 and May 26.
The measles virus, which spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, is highly contagious. According to the Department of Health, nine out of ten people can become infected if they are not vaccinated. Vaccination remains the best defense against measles, with two doses of the MMR vaccine providing 97% protection.
Lancaster County now has the highest number of cases in the region, surpassing Lebanon County. The Department of Health has been conducting contact tracing to prevent further spread and has held vaccination clinics in affected areas.
Dr. Debra Bogen, Secretary of Health, emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating, "With two measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine doses, you are at extremely low risk of getting measles and spreading it to your family and community."
The recent increase in measles cases reflects a nationwide trend, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting nearly 2,000 cases across the United States this year. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but cases have been rising since 2025.
Health officials urge anyone who visited the Kohl's store during the exposure period and is unvaccinated or experiencing symptoms to contact their healthcare provider. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward.