Chester County Expects Measles Cases to Rise Beyond 13 as Pennsylvania Confirms 132
Updated
Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Jul 23
Chester County Expects Measles Cases to Rise Beyond 13 as Pennsylvania Confirms 132
2 articles · Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Jul 23
Summary
Chester County health officials said confirmed measles cases are likely to keep growing after 13 infections were identified locally within Pennsylvania's 132-case outbreak.
All 13 Chester County cases involved unvaccinated people, and officials said whole families are getting infected and not staying home after exposure or illness.
Delaware has reported 4 cases—all unvaccinated men in Kent County—while Delaware County, which has no cases, is preparing an MMR vaccination education campaign.
Pennsylvania's statewide MMR vaccination rate stands at 93%, but kindergarten vaccination rates have declined in every county in the region over the past five years.
CDC data underscore the risk: about 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to measles become infected, and 1 to 5 patients require hospitalization.
With US measles cases hitting a 35-year high in 2026, could the country permanently lose its disease elimination status?
What behavioral shifts are driving the dangerous drop in kindergarten vaccination rates that fueled this unprecedented 2026 measles surge?
Since infected individuals are traveling widely while contagious, how can communities protect themselves when specific exposure sites remain unidentified?