In early June, visitors at the Lancaster County Courthouse may have unknowingly encountered a highly contagious virus. The measles pathogen can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, and it can infect up to 90 percent of unprotected individuals it encounters.
This incident is part of a growing health crisis in Pennsylvania. In 2026, the state has reported 84 measles cases, a significant increase from the previous year. The outbreak began in late April with three hospitalizations in Lebanon County and has since spread to six counties. Lancaster County has the highest number of cases, with 41 confirmed infections.
Medical experts believe the actual number of cases is higher, as some people may not realize they have symptoms or might hide their illness due to fear. Lancaster County also lacks a public health agency to manage the situation.
The return of measles, a disease once eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, is linked to the aftermath of the global health crisis. Doubts about COVID-19 vaccines have unfortunately affected routine childhood immunizations. Misinformation and political divisions have created anxiety about vaccines, especially in rural Pennsylvania. The influence of figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has amplified anti-vaccination messages.
As a result, kindergarten vaccination rates have declined. In Pennsylvania, rates dropped from 96.4 percent before the pandemic to 94 percent recently. In Lancaster County, the rate is even lower, around 88.5 percent, which is below the 95 percent needed to prevent the virus's spread.
At Ephrata Mennonite School, fewer than half of the kindergarten students are vaccinated. Two students contracted the virus there in late April.
Measles symptoms include fever and rash, but it can lead to serious complications like kidney and liver problems, and brain swelling. Roughly one in ten patients requires hospitalization.
All documented cases in Pennsylvania this year involved unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination histories. The state health department is urging doctors to vaccinate babies as young as six months old in affected areas. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen is working to rebuild public trust and stated, "We will not slow down until this outbreak is over." The state has set up clinics and administered over 1,300 doses statewide this year. Nationally, over 2,000 infections have been reported, putting the U.S. at risk of losing its measles-free status.