1,398 confirmed cases of measles were reported in Pennsylvania as of Wednesday, according to the state health department. This figure represents an increase of 38 cases since the previous update on Monday, as the state manages its worst measles outbreak in years, as reported by Reuters.
Pennsylvania Reports 265 Measles Hospitalizations and Five Deaths
Data from Pennsylvania’s health department indicates that there have been 265 measles-related hospitalizations so far this year. The state has reported five measles-related deaths in 2026. However, the CDC has confirmed three measles-linked fatalities without specifying their location.
Pennsylvania Deploys Staff to Increase MMR Vaccine Access
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has deployed approximately 300 staff members to provide fact-based information and vaccine access. DOH nurses have administered more than 10,300 MMR vaccine doses in 2026, including nearly 6,700 doses delivered through 228 pop-up clinics since the outbreak began in late April.
There has been a significant increase in vaccination demand across the state. While Pennsylvania providers typically administer about 25,000 MMR doses per month, more than 56,000 were administered in September and over 39,000 in the first three weeks of October. The CDC has stated it would provide additional support to help investigate the outbreak, and the DOH response team meets with the CDC every other week. The DOH also continues to work with professional staff from the CDC to respond to the outbreak.
Vaccine Availability
The MMR vaccine is available statewide through municipal or county health departments, the DOH State Health Center, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), a Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, or health care providers.
Measles Cases Spread Across 44 Pennsylvania Counties
As of October 22, CDC data showed 4,588 measles cases across the U.S., with 1,327 of those originating in Pennsylvania. The DOH has confirmed cases across 44 Pennsylvania counties. The DOH tracks trends to provide health care providers and residents visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth to inform the ongoing response, though daily numbers fluctuate.
Health officials describe measles as a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through breathing, coughing, or sneezing, remaining infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. The virus can lead to brain swelling and pneumonia; the DOH notes that nearly 20 percent of identified measles patients have been hospitalized.
While the state has reported five deaths, it remains unclear why the CDC has only confirmed three measles-linked fatalities.
