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More than 4,400 measles cases reported in US as CDC plans to send 'disease detective' to Pennsylvania
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos • • general
Key Points:
- The CDC reported over 4,400 measles cases in the U.S. this year, with 1,200 cases and six deaths occurring in Pennsylvania alone, prompting the state to request federal assistance.
- The CDC is deploying a "disease detective" through its Epi-Aid program to support Pennsylvania’s outbreak response by increasing workforce and epidemiologic capacity.
- Approximately 96% of measles cases nationally are among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, while less than 1% of Pennsylvania’s cases are among fully vaccinated individuals.
- The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine, which are 93% and 97% effective respectively, but vaccination rates have declined from 95.2% in 2019-20 to 92.4% in 2025-26 among kindergartners.
- Health officials, including CDC leadership and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., continue to endorse the MMR vaccine as the best protection against measles infection.
