Update on the Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak

    The number of cases in the latest measles outbreak in Pennsylvania continues to grow. I noted in my July 12 post that the number of cases had exceeded 100. Now, the total number in two separate outbreaks in the State for the year had grown to nearly 380 by the end of last week, with a rapid increase recently, versus 16 for all of last year. Health officials believe the true number of cases is much higher. The start of the new school year will likely accelerate the spread. 

     Measles, a virus which was the leading cause of childhood deafness, can cause organ failure and even death, is the most contagious disease. It can be prevented by a safe and effective vaccine. Over half of Pennsylvania’s cases are in Lancaster County, which has a relatively low vaccination rate. It is the home to the largest concentration of Anabaptists, who tend not to vaccinate. All of the State’s cases are of unvaccinated people. Of Pennsylvania’s schoolchildrend, only 93% are vaccinated, which is short of the 95% needed to prevent spread. Other States in America are also continuing to experience measles outbreaks. 

    As I have posted, vaccine hesitancy has increased in recent years because of unfounded concerns about vaccine safety, spread by conspiracy theories on the far left and far right, exacerbated by libertarian opposition to vaccine mandates even for schoolchildren, and amplified by Russian disinformation.