As a measles outbreak escalates in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country, exposures rattle people at risk

Key Points:

• A newborn in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Danville, Pennsylvania, was exposed to measles by an infected adult visitor at Geisinger Medical Center, highlighting risks to vulnerable patients amid an ongoing outbreak centered in Lancaster County.
• Lancaster County, home to large Amish and Mennonite populations with generally lower vaccination rates, has reported about half of Pennsylvania's nearly 400 measles cases this year, including two recent deaths, the first in 35 years.
• Hospitals in the region, including Geisinger and Penn State’s Golisano Children’s Hospital, have had measles exposures, prompting stricter screening protocols and urging patients to call ahead before visiting healthcare facilities to reduce spread.
• Geisinger restricted NICU visitation to parents or legal guardians without measles symptoms and encouraged mask-wearing, but some parents, like Brittany Sponenberg, expressed frustration over delayed notification and lack of vaccine verification for visitors.
• Declining vaccination rates due to increased personal belief exemptions and misinformation have eroded herd immunity, especially in certain schools and communities, contributing to the resurgence of measles and complicating protection efforts for immunocompromised and very young children.