Measles Case Confirmed In Montco, The First In PA In 2025

NORRISTOWN, PA — Pennsylvania's first measles case of 2025 was confirmed over the weekend in Montgomery County, the county's department of health confirmed.

The case was found in an unvaccinated child who has been exposed to the public at numerous points, including via public transportation and multiple healthcare facilities. The number of individuals potentially exposed is therefore very high.

Health officials are completing contact tracing and working to contact all those who were potentially exposed. It's not yet clear how many of those individuals are unvaccinated, and how far the virus may have spread.

The child was exposed to the public at these locations:

• February 25 at 9:30 p.m. to Feb. 26 at 3:15 a.m.: China Airlines Airport shuttle bus, which departed JFK Airport Terminal 4 and arrived at Pho Ha Saigon, 757 Adams Avenue, in North Philadelphia
• February 26 at 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.: True North Pediatrics Associates of Plymouth, 3031 Walton Road in Plymouth Meeting
• February 26 at 12:52 p.m. to 3:02 p.m.: CHOP King of Prussia Campus Emergency Department, 550 S. Goddard Boulevard, King of Prussia

It's not the only measles outbreak in the country. Even in states where measles isn’t a problem, the dangerous viral disease can spread quickly in unvaccinated populations, which appears to be the case in West Texas, where there were 58 confirmed measles cases as of last week, including 13 requiring hospitalization.

The number of cases in Texas is up from 24 on Feb. 11. All but 13 of the cases are in Gaines County, which borders Lea County in New Mexico, where eight new measles cases have been reported.

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

Symptoms of measles include cold-like symptoms, runny nose, red eyes, greyish-white spots in the mouth, fever, and more. It's transmitted most commonly through coughing and sneezing.

Measles can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected individual leaves that area.

The MMR vaccine that provides full immunity is available at many healthcare provider offices and pharmacies.