The Pennsylvania Department of Health has launched an online dashboard to track measles cases across the commonwealth after a jump in outbreaks.
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The dashboard will be updated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon. The public tracker reports county-by-county case counts, demographic data, hospitalization rates, and vaccination statuses.
More than 200 cases have been recorded statewide this year.
While Bucks County has not reported any cases, infections have been confirmed in neighboring Montgomery and Lehigh counties. A recent outbreak in Lancaster County prompted expanded public health outreach.
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“We continue working tirelessly to contain the spread of this highly contagious virus among people who are not vaccinated,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania’s secretary of health.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected individual leaves the area.
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Symptoms, which typically appear 7 to 21 days after exposure, include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). A distinct rash then begins on the head or face before spreading downward. The infection can lead to severe health complications, hospitalization, or death.
The state health department issued guidance in late June allowing providers to vaccinate infants as young as six months old. While infants are particularly vulnerable, the early dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and provides moderate protection during active spread.
The death rate for measles is 1 to 3 per 1,000 cases, while the risk of severe adverse effects from the vaccine are exceptionally rare and almost nonexistent, according to STAT News.
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State health officials said that the MMR vaccine remains the sole prevention method.
A full two-dose series is 97 percent effective at preventing infection. Since its introduction in the early 1960s, U.S. measles cases and deaths dropped more than 97 percent.
Because measles was declared essentially eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, many clinicians have never treated the disease.
In a bid to assist providers, the state issued Health Alert Network messages and hosted live briefings for more than 1,000 health care professionals.
When new cases are reported, public health staff perform contact tracing, issue public notices, and ensure infected individuals isolate, according to state officials.
Anyone suspecting exposure and experiencing symptoms should contact a health provider or call the state hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258). Further details are available at www.pa.gov/measles.
