Pennsylvania surpasses 1,000 measles cases, largest in decades
· Health · United States
Pennsylvania has surpassed 1,000 measles cases this year, state health officials calculate, making it the largest state outbreak in more than three decades. Neighbouring states are also reporting hundreds of cases, with over 3,800 recorded across the country. The benchmark came as neighbouring New York declared a statewide disaster emergency over its own outbreak spreading through under-immunised rural communities. The US had largely eliminated measles by 2000 but has seen outbreaks amid declining vaccination rates.
Why it matters：The outbreak shows how falling vaccination rates can undo decades of disease control, with risks for children and public health systems.
Key points
- Pennsylvania topped 1,000 measles cases this year.
- Over 3,800 cases have been recorded across the US.
- New York declared a disaster emergency over its outbreak.
Sources (original reporting)
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