Conflicting Measles Reports Perpetuate as Cases Continue to Rise

With the most recent reports showing over 3470 US measles cases this year, outbreaks have reached Pennsylvania as it becomes the center of the nation’s measles resurgence, according to Reuters.¹ Add on US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s feud with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro over measles mortality in the state. Concerns surrounding this phenomenon are not expected to slow anytime soon.

“We’re seeing at least one [measles case] every day,” said John Goldman, MD, infectious disease specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, according to The Guardian.² “It’s not rocket science; if we see more measles, we’ll see more deaths. I suspect that we’re not going to see a break until most people in most communities are immune either by vaccine or infection.”

As The Guardian reports, Goldman is an infectious disease expert with decades of experience in his field, and throughout his entire career, he’s only seen 2 measles cases, and none in almost 35 years. This, however, changed drastically in 2026 as measles outbreaks moved from Texas at the start of the year and into various parts of the country.

The state of Pennsylvania is now taking center stage within the measles conversation as health care providers, like pharmacists and physicians, advocate for vaccination and seek federal guidance on how to respond better to outbreaks, keeping their communities safe and protected.¹

READ MORE: The Pharmacist’s Role Amid Measles Surge, Vaccine Policy Change

Rising Regional Infection Rates and Airport Exposure

As cases in Pennsylvania approach 800, state health officials confirmed 792 total infections and 155 hospitalizations, with Lancaster County remaining the hardest-hit region.

Localized spread has expanded into high-volume transportation hubs, including a second reported exposure at Philadelphia International Airport across Terminals B and F, alongside exposure alerts in hospital environments such as the neonatal intensive care unit at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.^2,3

National data tracking shows over 3470 cases nationwide spanning 47 jurisdictions, with the vast majority of cases stemming from local transmission rather than international travel.^1,4,5

Data Conflicts and Federal Reporting Delays

The rapid escalation of cases has coincided with significant discrepancies between state and federal mortality counts. Pennsylvania health authorities have reported 4 measles-associated deaths involving 2 infants and 2 adults.^1,6

However, the CDC has excluded these fatalities from its national totals pending verification from the National Center for Health Statistics.^1,4,6

Federal health officials are currently collaborating with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists to construct a standardized definition for measles deaths, though former public health officials warn that these verification delays hinder real-time epidemiology and obscure the true severity of ongoing spread.^2,4

Clinical Complexity and the Vital Role of Pharmacists

For pharmacy professionals, this resurgence presents clinical challenges as clinicians encounter unexpected disease presentations, including congenital measles among newborns.²

Data indicates that 95% of infected individuals nationwide are unvaccinated or possess an unknown vaccination status, reflecting a broader decline in routine childhood immunization rates. Kindergarten measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage dropped to 92.4% in recent school years, falling below the 95% threshold required for community immunity and leaving roughly 280,000 children at risk.^3-6

Strengthening Community Immunization and Triage

As accessible health care providers, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address immunity gaps and assist in outbreak containment. Administering the 2-dose MMR series yields 97% lifetime protection against measles infection, making patient outreach and routine schedule catch-up critical.^3,4,6

Pharmacists must also remain vigilant in evaluating potential symptoms such as high fever and rash, guiding exposed individuals toward rapid diagnostic testing and providing evidence-based consultation to combat vaccine hesitancy during this escalating public health crisis.^2,4,5

“The best protection against measles remains getting fully vaccinated,” stated the Pennsylvania Department of Health, according to the University of Minnesota.⁶ “The MMR vaccine, administered over 2 doses, boosts a person’s immune system and provides 97% lifetime protection.”

READ MORE: Infectious Disease Resource Center

REFERENCES

1. Pennsylvania measles cases near 800 as outbreak grows. Reuters. September 21, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/pennsylvania-measles-cases-near-800-outbreak-grows-2026-09-21/

2. Schreiber M. Why the CDC is excluding measles deaths in Pennsylvania even as outbreak appears to be ‘accelerating.’ The Guardian. September 22, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/22/cdc-pennsylvania-measles-death-outbreak

3. Kekatos M. 2nd possible measles exposure reported in Philadelphia at airport. ABC Action News. September 22, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://6abc.com/story/2nd-possible-measles-exposure-reported-philadelphia-international-airport/19857284/

4. Measles cases and outbreaks. CDC. September 18, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

5. Tracking measles cases in the U.S. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. September 18, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/resources/us-measles-tracker

6. Wappes J. CDC adds 177 cases to US measles total but has yet to confirm deaths in Pennsylvania. University of Minnesota. September 18, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/cdc-adds-177-cases-us-measles-total-has-yet-confirm-deaths-pennsylvania