Key Takeaway:
- 835 measles cases have been reported across 39 Pennsylvania counties, including 164 hospitalizations and four deaths.
- 43 new cases were reported since Monday, bringing the 10-day increase to 140 cases.
- Vaccination demand is surging, with nearly 40,000 MMR doses administered during the first three weeks of September.
Pennsylvania health officials reported 43 new measles cases since Monday, bringing the 2026 statewide total to 835 across 39 counties as the outbreak continues to spread and demand for vaccinations rises.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 164 measles-related hospitalizations and four confirmed measles-associated deaths. The latest figures represent 140 additional cases reported over the past 10 days.
The outbreak began in late April and has expanded beyond the areas initially affected. Lancaster County remains the center of the outbreak, while cases have now been reported in 39 of the state’s 67 counties.
The health department is updating its measles dashboard with case, hospitalization, death and vaccination information as officials monitor transmission across the state.
Vaccination Demand Climbs As Cases Increase
Health care providers are reporting a sharp increase in demand for measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccinations.
More than 38,000 MMR doses were administered across Pennsylvania during the first three weeks of September, compared with about 25,000 doses in a typical month, according to the Department of Health. Providers administered more than 49,000 doses in August.
The state also has expanded access through pop-up vaccination clinics in communities affected by the outbreak. State health officials have administered nearly 5,200 MMR doses at 156 such clinics since the outbreak began, the department said.
“Getting vaccinated is the best protection against the measles virus,” the Pennsylvania Department of Health said in its latest update, noting that two doses of the MMR vaccine provide 97% protection against measles.
People with two documented MMR doses generally do not need another dose, while adults who have received only one dose or cannot locate their vaccination records are advised to discuss vaccination with a health care provider or pharmacist, according to the department.
Officials Track Hospitalizations And Deaths
The outbreak has produced four confirmed measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania this year. State officials confirmed the fourth death on Sept. 15, after previously reporting three other deaths associated with the outbreak.
All four people were reported as unvaccinated, according to state health officials. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has limited the personal details released about the deaths to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families.
The department also reported that four people who contracted measles had been appropriately vaccinated for their ages. Those measles cases account for less than 1% of the state’s reported infections.
Pennsylvania has sought additional federal assistance as the outbreak has grown. The state began the formal process of requesting an epidemiological assistance team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sept. 16.
Health officials continue to urge residents to check their vaccination records and consult health care providers about MMR vaccination, particularly as new cases are identified across the state.
