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Bucks County Confirms First Measles Case as Statewide Outbreak Reaches 1,505
An adult resident who traveled to Central Pennsylvania tested positive for measles, becoming Bucks County's first case this year. Health officials warn more cases are likely as the statewide outbreak continues.
Bucks County has recorded its first measles case of the year, health officials announced Monday, as a statewide outbreak that has already claimed six lives continues to spread across Pennsylvania.
The infected individual is an adult resident whose vaccination status was unclear, according to the Bucks County Health Department. The person had recently traveled to Central Pennsylvania, where measles transmission is widespread, and is no longer contagious. County officials have contacted the healthcare facilities the resident visited and are working to notify patients who may have been exposed.
"Given the ongoing measles outbreak in parts of Pennsylvania, it is reasonable to expect additional cases may be reported here in Bucks County," Dr. David Damsker, director of the county health department, said in a statement. "Fortunately, across Bucks County we overall tend to see very high rates of vaccination against measles, which prevents further spread and keeps most infections mild in the rare instance that they occur."
Damsker urged residents who are unsure of their vaccination status to check with their doctor.
Pennsylvania has reported 1,505 measles cases this year, with roughly one-third originating in Lancaster County. In August, two Lancaster County residents died from the diseaseâthe first measles-associated deaths in the state in 35 years. The state has since reported six measles-related deaths, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's national dashboard lists only four in the entire country. The discrepancy stems partly from differing counting methods between the CDC and states, and it has sparked a public dispute between Gov. Josh Shapiro and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after the CDC initially refused to include the Pennsylvania deaths in its national toll.
Measles has not yet appeared in Philadelphia, but several suburban counties have reported cases. Chester County has been hit hardest with 94 cases, a surge that prompted Oxford Area High School to close last month after a member of the school community contracted the virus. Montgomery County has reported three cases, while Delaware County has reported none.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe complications, particularly in children under 5. Health experts say vaccination is the best defense: two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing infection.
Bucks County health officials are advising residents to verify their immunization records and to contact their healthcare provider if they suspect exposure or develop symptoms such as fever, rash, cough, or red eyes.