Chester Co. Now Among Nation's Worst For Measles Cases

WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County's measles outbreak is now among the most severe in the nation, according to the latest available data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the CDC.

There are 83 cases in Chester County, comprising a significant portion of the state's 977 cases. Only Lancaster and Mifflin counties have more.

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The state reported 102 new cases in the past week. A total of 195 cases have led to hospitalization, and 31 percent of all cases are in children under the age of 18.

There have been five confirmed deaths.

"While daily numbers fluctuate, tracking these trends provides Pennsylvanians and health care providers with visibility into community transmission across the Commonwealth and helps inform the Department's ongoing response," the Department of Health shared in a statement.

Pennsylvania is the national epicenter for measles, with more cases than any other state.

Utah, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia have all seen notable outbreaks, as well. However, Chester County has more cases than have occurred in any of the other 41 states.

Of all cases statewide, only 4 of the 977 were vaccinated.

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.