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PA measles outbreak tops 1,000 cases, largest since disease was eliminated
Ars Technica • • general
Key Points:
- Pennsylvania is experiencing the largest measles outbreak in the US since 1991, with 1,078 cases reported in 2026, including 1,066 cases since April, resulting in 207 hospitalizations and five deaths, all among unvaccinated individuals.
- Nationwide vaccination rates are declining, contributing to a resurgence of measles outbreaks, with recent large outbreaks in Texas (762 cases) and South Carolina (997 cases) now surpassed by Pennsylvania's current numbers.
- The US may lose its measles elimination status in an upcoming review by the Pan American Health Organization, following similar losses by Canada in 2025, due to sustained transmission and rising cases.
- New York has declared a State Disaster Emergency amid rising measles cases, expanding the pool of healthcare workers authorized to vaccinate and test, aiming to curb the spread of the preventable disease.
- The CDC reports 3,887 measles cases nationwide in 2026, the highest since 1991, raising concerns among experts about potential accelerated spread as outbreaks continue into the fall season.
