News

August 26, 2026

Measles a Growing Concern as Number of Cases Rise

As the number of measles cases continues to rise in Pennsylvania, state and county health departments have provided guidelines for families to stay safe amid the outbreak.

What to Know About Measles

Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects the lungs and spreads when an infected person breaths, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, even after the infected person leaves the area.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes followed by a rash that starts on the head or face and spreads downward.
Symptoms can start seven to 21 days after exposure. An individual with measles can spread the virus to others four days before and four days after the rash begins.

Cases on the Rise

The number of measles cases continues to rise in Pennsylvania as 70 people have been hospitalized statewide, with two deaths in Lancaster County. Allegheny County reported a positive case at UPMC Children’s Hospital Emergency Department in Pittsburgh

No additional details can be provided about the Allegheny County case for privacy reasons. UPMC will call patients who have been identified as exposed on the two days when the patient was at the hospital.

How to Prevent Measles

Measles is a preventable disease, but vaccination is on the decline and cases have risen to the highest level in 35 years. Individuals who are not vaccinated are most at-risk for infection, state and county health departments said.

The Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to toddlers when they are 12 to 15 months, and a second MMR vaccine is required for all Pennsylvania school children.

The state’s Department of Health (DOH) advises that Pennsylvanians should follow immunization recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which include MMR, hepatitis, polio, and whooping cough.

The Pennsylvania DOH recently said that it planned on sticking to its original childhood vaccine schedule, despite a federal executive order recommending alterations, and that school entry requirements would remain the same.

What To Do If Your Child is Exposed to Measles

Caregivers who are concerned that their child might have been exposed to measles should take the following steps:

Do not go directly to a healthcare facility without calling ahead first.
Check the child’s vaccination status.
Residents in Allegheny County who are concerned about a potential exposure should call the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-578-8062.
Pennsylvanians in other areas who believe their child might have been exposed can call 877-724-3258.

News

August 14, 2026

Allegheny County Health Department: Caregivers Should Not Delay with MMR Vaccination for Children

The Allegheny County Health Department recommends that caregivers do not delay their child’s vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

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The health department made the announcement in the wake of a recent federal announcement that the department notes may have created confusion about routine childhood vaccinations.

The federal government recently called for exploring separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines – however, single-antigen measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are not available in the United States, the health department said.

The department notes that the MMR vaccine remains the recommended method to protect children against the three serious diseases. Therefore, families should not wait for a hypothetical future vaccine option when the MMR vaccine is available and has a long history of protecting children, the department said.

Measles is highly contagious, and cases continue to occur in communities across the country and Pennsylvania.

“Measles is not an abstract or distant threat – it is at our doorstep and vaccination is the best way to protect children and prevent outbreaks in our community,” said Dr. Jillian Irwin, medical director and deputy director for clinical services at the Allegheny County Health Department.

News

September 9, 2025

PA Partnerships for Children: MMR Vaccines for Children Trending Downward in State

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children has released a new fact sheet on kindergarten immunizations as the 2025-26 school year begins.

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The fact sheet primarily focuses on vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) among Pennsylvania kindergarteners and emphasizes the importance of getting vaccinated for public health.

Data in the fact sheet focuses on MMR vaccines because of the resurgence of measles cases around the United States. However, other childhood vaccines for Pennsylvania kindergarteners – such as ones for whooping cough and polio – are also trending downward.

For the second consecutive year, the state’s MMR coverage rate for kindergarteners fell below the 95% target following the 8,000 children who were not up to date during the previous school year. Coverage rates vary by county, with 44 Pennsylvania counties below 95% and eight below 90%.

Vaccination rates have decreased, while exemptions – mostly for religious reasons – have increased. National MMR coverage is 93%, with only 11 states meeting the 95% target.

Decreasing vaccination rates heighten the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles. As the 2025-26 school year begins, caregivers are encouraged to schedule wellness checkups and discuss vaccine safety with their doctors.

There are free or low-cost health insurance options for families through Medicaid, CHIP, or the state’s health insurance marketplace, Pennie. The state Department of Health offers free vaccines for uninsured children or those whose insurance does not cover immunizations through the Vaccines for Children Program.

To learn more, check out the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children fact sheet.