Health · Public Health & Disease · 21 hrs ago
CDC sends scientist to help Pennsylvania contain measles outbreak
Pennsylvania has confirmed at least 1,222 measles cases, making it the country’s worst outbreak in 30 years.
State health officials have confirmed six measles-associated deaths, while the CDC says some of those deaths are still under review.
The outbreak is centered in Lancaster County, where more than 415 cases had been confirmed by October 9, and it is spreading across the state.
Lancaster County has no local health department, which county officials say makes it harder to gather local information and respond quickly.
The CDC is sending a disease investigator to work with Pennsylvania health officials; the scientist was expected to arrive later in the week.
The agency is also releasing nearly $4 million to support the response, and its director recommends the MMR vaccine as the most effective way to prevent measles.
The CDC’s short-term support aims to help contain the outbreak, while a county commissioner is advocating for Lancaster County to establish its own health department.
The CDC is sending a scientist to Pennsylvania to help contain its growing measles outbreak.
The scientist, a “disease detective” from the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, was scheduled to arrive later in the week.
Pennsylvania had at least 1,222 confirmed measles cases, and state officials had confirmed six measles-associated deaths.
Lancaster County is the outbreak’s center, but the outbreak has spread across the state.
The CDC is also releasing nearly $4 million to support Pennsylvania’s measles response.
- Who
- The CDC is sending a scientist from its Epidemic Intelligence Service to help Pennsylvania officials.
- What
- The scientist will assist with efforts to curb the state’s measles outbreak.
- When
- The CDC announced the deployment on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The scientist was scheduled to arrive later that week.
- Where
- Pennsylvania, with the outbreak centered in Lancaster County.
- Why
- To help curb the outbreak and support response efforts.
Josh Shapiro
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Vaccine misinformation
Josh Shapiro
Shapiro accused Kennedy of spreading vaccine misinformation and said the administration’s rhetoric was harming communities.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy suggested the measles deaths may have been fabricated and that Shapiro was seeking to profit from them politically.
Shapiro accused Kennedy of spreading vaccine misinformation after announcing two measles deaths in Pennsylvania.
Lancaster County had more than 415 confirmed cases, according to the Guardian.
The CDC announced it would send a scientist to Pennsylvania to help curb the outbreak.
The CDC scientist was scheduled to arrive in Pennsylvania.
- Confirmed cases
- At least 1,222 in Pennsylvania
- Deaths
- Six measles-associated deaths confirmed by Pennsylvania
- Hospitalizations
- 225
- CDC deployment
- One scientist from the Epidemic Intelligence Service
- CDC funding
- Nearly $4 million
- Outbreak center
- Lancaster County
3 sources
What people are saying
CDC will continue working closely with Pennsylvania health officials to provide the expertise and support needed to respond to the outbreak and protect public health,
as the most effective way to prevent measles and protect against infection
I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that’s coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania,
It’s a lot for our state to handle from a communication standpoint,