Pennsylvania Department of Health reports measles case in Lancaster County
EPHRATA, Pa. (WHTM) — A visitor to Lancaster County coming from Texas tested positive for measles, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said Sunday.
The patient was visiting Lancaster County and was contagious between April 3 and April 11 and had visited after a trip from Texas.
They visited the WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital Emergency Department between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. April 8 and anyone who was there at the time may have been exposed.
Measles exploded in Texas after stagnant vaccine funding. New cuts threaten the same across the US
'Our team took all necessary precautions when managing this patient, but outreach has been conducted and completed with any other patients that may have been in this individual's presence in our emergency department,' WellSpan Health said in a statement to abc27 News.
The Department of Health said they live out-of-state and became infected after visiting Texas.
The risk to the general public is low due to high vaccination rates across Pennsylvania, the department says. People who are fully immunized are at very low risk of contracting the measles. People unsure of their vaccination status should contact their health care provider.
'The best protection against measles is vaccination,' said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. 'With two MMR vaccines, residents are at low risk of getting and spreading the measles. Knowing the signs of sickness and places people may have been exposed will help protect individuals and communities from this disease.'
People who believe they were exposed to measles and are experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider or call the Pennsylvania Department of Health toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH. All residents are encouraged to monitor for symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) people most at-risk are:
Infants less than one year old who are too young to have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine;
Individuals who are unvaccinated; and
Individuals from parts of the world where there is low vaccination coverage or where there is circulating measles.
Earlier this week, a measles case was reported in Philadelphia County.
The Philadelphia Department of Health reported that a patient tested positive for measles and had visited the Pennsylvania Hospital Emergency Department in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 6 between 3:55 p.m. and 11:20 p.m., and the Holy Redeemer Hospital Emergency Department in Meadowbrook on Tuesday, April 8 between 6:05 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
'As vaccination rates across the country continue to drop, there are more and more opportunities for people who cannot be vaccinated to be exposed to this deadly disease,' said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Public Health. 'However, because Philadelphia has high rates of immunity against measles, we are hopeful that this case won't spread further. For us to keep that protection, it is critical for everyone who isn't already immune from measles and can be vaccinated, get vaccinated as soon as possible.'
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That case in Philadelphia County came while travelling abroad and is not connected to the outbreak out west.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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