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Pennsylvania has reported over 1,500 measles cases this year, marking the largest outbreak in the United States in decades. As of Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 1,505 cases, with six measles-associated deaths. The outbreak is most severe in Lancaster County, which has the largest Amish population in the U.S.
The Amish community has been particularly affected due to low vaccination rates. According to NPR, only about a third of Amish families in the region vaccinate their children. Dale Weiser, the clinical services supervisor for the Chester County Health Department, has been administering vaccines directly to Amish homes to combat the outbreak. She has provided over 400 doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Efforts to control the outbreak include a word-of-mouth campaign to build trust with the Amish community, as reported by Jeanne Franklin, Chester County Public Health Director. This approach involves visiting Amish church leaders and businesses to promote vaccine clinics.
The outbreak has spread across 45 counties in Pennsylvania, with 73 new cases reported in the last week, according to Local 21 News. The state has mobilized around 200 Department of Health staff to work with communities and healthcare providers to provide accurate information and access to vaccines.
The outbreak has prompted discussions among international health leaders about whether the U.S. will retain its measles elimination status, which it has held since 2000. The Pan American Health Organization is expected to make a decision on this matter soon, as noted by The Inquirer.