Measles Cases Near 1,000 In PA: Where Chester County Stands

WEST CHESTER, PA — Measles cases across Pennsylvania are approaching 1,000 as the outbreak continues, and Chester County remains in the middle of it.

The county has 18 new cases over the past two weeks, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, bringing its total for this year's outbreak up to 83.

Only Lancaster (363) and Mifflin (106) counties are responsible for more cases than Chester County.

Statewide totals now sit at 903, with 176 hospitalizations. There have also been four deaths statewide.

Nearly all of the cases have appeared since early April.

The bulk of the outbreak is in clusters, as nearby Montgomery County has just 3 cases, and Bucks and Delaware counties have none.

County health officials urge residents to get vaccinated or to check on their immunity status. More than 5,300 MMR vaccinations have been delivered at 173 pop-up vaccination clinics since the outbreak began.

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.