The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced this week that a measles cases has been diagnosed in Schuylkill County.

The department said that 792 measles cases have now been confirmed across 39 counties in Pennsylvania.

Two cases were previously reported in Lehigh County, but no cases have been reported in other counties in the Times News region.

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 says 155 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak began in April. Four deaths have been associated with measles.

Symptoms

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious short- and long-term health problems including pneumonia and brain swelling, with nearly 20 percent of people who contract measles being hospitalized. Death from measles, though rare, occurs in one to three patients per 1,000 cases.

Measles spreads when a person who is infected breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person with the infection leaves the area.

Symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Without proper protection or supportive care, measles can be deadly. Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after exposure.

The best protection against measles remains getting fully vaccinated. The MMR vaccine, administered over two doses, boosts a person’s immune system and provides 97% lifetime protection. People who have two documented doses of MMR do not need another. Adults who have only one dose, or who cannot find their vaccination records, should talk with a health care provider or pharmacist about getting vaccinated.

As part of the state’s ongoing response to the measles outbreak in Pennsylvania, DOH will be offering MMR vaccinations during the Bloomsburg Fair in Columbia County. Vaccinations will be available at the Bloomsburg Fair beginning Saturday.

The MMR vaccinations will be available at no cost and there will be no insurance eligibility screening. Anyone who is receiving their first dose of the MMR vaccination will be provided with information to schedule their second dose at their nearest State Health center.

State health officials have administered more than 4,800 MMR vaccinations at 148 pop-up vaccination clinics in the affected communities since the outbreak began in late April. Overall, state health center staff have administered more than 6,900 MMR vaccine doses to residents across the Commonwealth in 2026.

Health care providers have also seen a surge of interest from residents seeking MMR vaccinations. In a typical month, Pennsylvania health care providers administer approximately 25,000 doses of the MMR vaccine. In August 2026, more than 46,000 MMR vaccines were administered across the Commonwealth and over the first two weeks of September 2026, more than 25,000 doses have been administered.

People who believe they were exposed to measles, and are experiencing symptoms, should contact their health care provider or call DOH’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).

The department continues to lead Pennsylvania’s robust response to the ongoing measles outbreak and is making the most up-to-date information on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths available on our measles dashboard at pa.gov/measles.