Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Confirms Measles Case Amid Statewide Outbreak
Health officials confirm case of measles in an adult in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who recently traveled to the central part of the state. The CDC counts at least 5,182 US cases this year, and Pennsylvania has reported more than 1,500 and six deaths.
Health officials confirm case of measles in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in an adult who recently traveled to the central part of the state, where a large outbreak is under way. The Bucks County Health Department said the person is no longer contagious.
The case matters well beyond one county. Pennsylvania has more than 1,500 measles cases and six deaths, and the national count has passed 5,000 for the year.
The health department said the person's vaccination status is not known. It has notified the healthcare providers whose offices the person is known to have visited. The county will help those providers contact patients who may have been exposed.
County officials expect more. "Given the ongoing measles outbreak in parts of Pennsylvania, it is reasonable to expect additional cases may be reported here in Bucks County," they said.
They also pointed to local vaccination levels. "Fortunately, across Bucks County we overall tend to see very high rates of vaccination against measles, which prevents further spread and keeps most infections mild in the rare instance that they occur," Bucks County health officials said.
National picture
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed at least 5,182 measles cases in the United States this year. Cases have appeared in 45 states and Washington, D.C. Eighteen involved international visitors.
Eight measles-associated deaths have been confirmed in 2026: six in Pennsylvania, one in New York and one in Wisconsin. The CDC has confirmed four of the eight and said the number is "subject to change."
Three of the deaths were confirmed by state health officials in one recent week. New York reported the first known measles-associated death in the state in more than 30 years, a child in upstate New York. Pennsylvania confirmed the death of an unvaccinated resident of Jefferson County. Wisconsin officials said an infant died with measles, the state's first death from the disease since 1990.
Who is getting sick
About 96% of cases are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, according to the CDC. Another 2% involve people who had one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. A further 2% involve people who had the recommended two doses.
The largest share of cases is among people aged 5 to 19. At least 11% of cases have led to hospitalization, including more than 1 in 10 children under 5.
The CDC recommends two MMR doses: the first at 12 to 15 months and the second between ages 4 and 6, before school entry. It says one dose is 93% effective and two doses are 97% effective against measles.
CDC data shows vaccination rates have slipped in recent years. During the 2025-26 school year, 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine.
