Pennsylvania Reports 1,004 Measles Cases This Year

Pennsylvania reported 1,004 measles cases this year as of Monday, including 992 in an outbreak that began in April, and five measles-associated deaths, according to state figures. The total puts the outbreak among the largest reported in the United States in decades, though health leaders believe the count may be incomplete. The state recorded 106 new cases in the past week. Nearly 200 people have been hospitalized this year, and about two-thirds of reported cases have been among adults, state data show. The figures describe a notably large outbreak, but comparisons with other outbreaks can be difficult because reporting periods and definitions differ. Lancaster County had the highest reported total, with 391 cases as of Monday. Cases had been reported in 39 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Chester County, in the Philadelphia region, reported 84 cases as of Monday, one more than the previous week. A Chester County health official said difficulty reaching people who may have been exposed has made efforts to contain transmission challenging.