According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, since January 2025, more than 700 confirmed measles cases have been reported by 25 states and jurisdictions, including confirmed cases in Pennsylvania.

Measles is an airborne, extremely infectious, and potentially severe rash illness. It can lead to severe outcomes in at-risk populations, especially newborn babies. The virus spreads by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes and can remain infectious in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area. The symptoms of measles happen about 7 to 21 days after coming in contact with a person with the virus.

Suspected cases and next steps

If you are experiencing symptoms of measles, please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health toll-free at 1-877-PA-HEALTH. Receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination provides the best protection.

If you have questions about measles and are not experiencing symptoms, please call the WellSpan Measles hotline at (717) 356-5005.

Symptoms

Measles often starts with cold-like symptoms, such as:

• high fever
• runny nose
• inflammation and redness of the covering of the white part of the eye (conjunctivitis)
• cough
• tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
• rash starts on the head and face and spreads down

Complications of measles can include ear infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia, which can be fatal. It can also result in an infection of the brain, which can impact a child’s long-term development and cause impairment in their ability to learn.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the person’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

A child who doesn't have enough vitamin A may need to take extra doses of this vitamin. Vitamin A does not treat measles by itself. But in people with vitamin A deficiency, taking vitamin A when they have measles lowers the risk for serious complications and death from the infection. Other treatment includes:

• Medicine for fever or discomfort
• Antibiotic medicine for complications, such as bacterial infections that may develop. Antibiotics are not effective in treating viral infections like measles.

Prevention

It is recommended that all children receive the MMR vaccine to prevent the measles infection. The first MMR vaccine is typically given when a child is 12 to 15 months old, followed by a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. Children who have not yet received their second dose but received their initial dose will have 93% protection if exposed.

Adults who did not get vaccinated as a child can still get vaccinated later in life. The MMR vaccine has been widely researched and has been demonstrated to be safe and effective at protecting children from a potentially harmful disease.