Pennsylvania reported its first confirmed measles case in 2025, as the country faces a rising number of infections. Health officials confirmed that a patient diagnosed with measles visited the emergency room at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in King of Prussia on Wednesday.
Details about the patient remain undisclosed, but officials stated that efforts are underway to notify individuals who may have been exposed. The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is expected to release additional information on exposure sites and timelines.
Measles, a highly contagious virus, spreads through airborne particles and contaminated surfaces. The disease poses the most significant risk to young children, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure, brain inflammation, and even death. Symptoms typically appear one to two weeks after exposure, including high fever, cough, mouth lesions, and a distinctive rash.
This latest case adds to the growing number of infections nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 164 cases across nine states in 2025. Last week, Texas reported the nation’s first measles-related death since 2015, involving an unvaccinated child.
Health officials continue urging vaccinations as the best defense against measles. The MMR vaccine is 93% effective with one dose and 97% with two.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer