Health officials report 74 new measles cases in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania health officials reported 74 new measles cases, bringing the state's annual total to 1,078. While the state emphasizes that this update does not represent a new surge, the outbreak has resulted in five deaths and highlights ongoing concerns regarding vaccination rates.
Why it matters
The resurgence of measles in specific regions underscores the public health risks associated with declining vaccination rates and the importance of herd immunity.
Pennsylvania is reporting 74 new measles cases since Monday, the state's health department said Wednesday.
A total of 1,078 cases have been reported in the state so far this year. At least 207 people have been hospitalized and five people have died, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) .
"Of the 74 cases added, more than 40 represent individuals who were sick more than two weeks ago and are no longer contagious, but their cases were only recently reported and subsequently confirmed, the DOH said. Wednesday's update "does not reflect a current surge in new infections."
Of the five people who died, two of the deaths were among unvaccinated adults: an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old. The other two deaths were among infants who were too young to have received the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.
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