12 More Measles Cases Found In Chester County

WEST CHESTER, PA — Another 12 cases of measles have been confirmed in Chester County over the past week, bringing the county's total up from 26 to 38.

It's double the amount of cases found the week before, when the county had 6 new cases.

Statewide, the total number of cases has also risen to 340, an increase of 82 cases in that same time.

County health officials urge residents to get vaccinated or to check on their immunity status.

Healthcare providers can check for vaccination status even if you don't have your healthcare records by conducting a measles titer, a blood test that checks for measles antibodies.

While many residents are vaccinated and up to 97 percent immune to the virus, unvaccinated rates have rapidly risen. The CDC says this is why measles has made a comeback after it had been all but obliterated by 2000.

Measles is highly infectious to those who are not vaccinated or who have not contracted it before, but it is extremely rare for a vaccinated individual to contract it, according to health officials. In the highly unlikely case a vaccinated person does get measles, they usually have milder symptoms.

To learn more about getting vaccinated in Chester County, see here.