Pennsylvania reports fifth measles death as officials brace for wider spread

The short version

• Pennsylvania reported a fifth measles-associated death, involving an unvaccinated person from Lancaster County.[ABC News]
• The state has 943 confirmed cases across 39 counties, with Lancaster recording 381, believed to be mostly among Amish or similar religious groups with low MMR uptake.[ABC News · The Guardian]
• Chester County is preparing for cases from Lancaster, and its health director says a local health department speeds outbreak response; only seven of 67 counties have one.[The Guardian]
• Officials say the disease may spread beyond the Plain community, while some people in key positions dispute that it is an outbreak; whether spread occurs is unknown.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• Pennsylvania health officials reported a fifth measles-associated death, involving an unvaccinated person from Lancaster County.[ABC News]
• Pennsylvania has 943 confirmed measles cases across 39 counties as of the latest report.[ABC News · The Guardian]
• Lancaster County has 381 cases, the most in the state, believed to be mostly among Amish or similar religious groups with low MMR vaccine uptake.[The Guardian]
• Chester County, with 83 cases, is preparing for an influx of cases from neighboring Lancaster County.[The Guardian]
• Only seven of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have their own health department.[The Guardian]
• Chester County's health director said the county is operating on the assumption that the disease may spread to non-Plain community members.[The Guardian]
• Montgomery County's public health medical director said measles cases are a matter of time for the county.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Pennsylvania health officials brace themselves as measles outbreak expected to spreadThe Guardian - US
• Pennsylvania records a fifth measles death as the nation endures its worst year since 1991ABC News - Health