Doctors warn of severe adult measles cases as Lancaster County outbreak grows

Key Points:

• A regional measles outbreak in Lancaster County has resulted in over 40 cases, with several severely ill adults requiring inpatient treatment for complications such as kidney and liver dysfunction and blood abnormalities.
• Since April, Lancaster County has reported 41 measles cases, contributing to a statewide total of 84 cases this year, primarily among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.
• Health officials emphasize that measles is highly contagious, with a 90% infection risk for unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus, which can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.
• In response, the state Department of Health and local providers have vaccinated 430 people recently, especially in Lancaster and Lebanon, while issuing a health alert recommending earlier vaccination for infants and catch-up doses for unvaccinated children.
• Medical experts strongly urge eligible individuals to receive the measles vaccine to protect themselves and vulnerable populations, highlighting the vaccine's proven safety and 97% effectiveness in preventing infection.