Pennsylvania measles cases top 700 after four outbreak-related deaths reported

Sept 16 (Reuters) - The Pennsylvania ‌Department of ​Health ​on Wednesday reported 731 measles cases, up 38 from Monday's update, as the outbreak continued to spread ‌in the state at the center of the ⁠nation's worst measles resurgence in decades.

Here are some details:

• The state health ‌department also confirmed 141 hospitalized ‌measles patients in the update.

• Lancaster County continued to bear the brunt of Pennsylvania's measles outbreak, remaining the state's ​worst-affected county as officials stepped up immunization campaigns and public health outreach.

• The figures were released a day ⁠after the health department reported four measles-related deaths among unvaccinated individuals, marking fresh fatalities ​in one of the most significant public health crises the country has seen from measles.

• The Pennsylvania ​health department said last month ‌that two residents died of measles, setting off a dispute between Governor Josh Shapiro and U.S. ⁠Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has said that only one of the deaths was directly linked to the infection.

• In ⁠2026, the U.S. has had 3,294 confirmed measles cases through September 10, ​according to CDC data.

• The CDC currently does not include the 2026 deaths in its measles tally, and its website says it is ‌reevaluating how it classifies measles deaths.

• Measles, a highly contagious viral disease that can cause fever, ‌rash and respiratory complications, is easily preventable with the measles, ⁠mumps and rubella vaccine, ‌or MMR, a routine ​childhood immunization that is 97% effective after two doses.

(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim ‌Zahid)

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