Measles Cases Rise in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
LEHIGH CO., Pa. – Measles cases are increasing in Pennsylvania, with Lehigh County reporting its first few instances, including one pediatric case.
The PA measles dashboard indicates that there are two confirmed cases in the county.
St. Luke’s announced on Monday that they are treating their first pediatric case, according to Dr. Jennifer Janco, Chair of St. Luke’s Pediatric Department.
Overall, the state has reported more than 170 measles cases.
Measles is highly contagious and can lead to symptoms like rash, fever, runny nose, and cough.
Healthcare professionals stress that the most effective way to prevent measles is through the MMR vaccine.
In recent months, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has identified an outbreak affecting 164 people across various counties, including Bedford (1 case), Berks (4 cases), Chester (19 cases), and others, as revealed in a statement from the DOH.
The department has been cooperating with healthcare providers and local communities to manage the outbreak. So far, more than 840 MMR vaccinations have been administered at community clinics since late April, with plans for additional clinics in the region.
The statement also mentioned that DOH is focusing on educating healthcare providers and protecting the community as part of its comprehensive measles response. They recently issued a Health Alert to remind doctors about measles symptoms and the importance of immunizations. As of 2026, state health staff have administered over 2,000 MMR doses to residents.
DOH reassures that for fully vaccinated individuals, the overall risk of contracting measles remains low, thanks to high vaccination rates in Pennsylvania. Data from the 2024–2025 school year shows that nearly 94% of kindergarten students in the state received both doses of the MMR vaccine.
With two doses being 97% effective against infection, Pennsylvania’s solid vaccination coverage is crucial for limiting cases compared to areas with lower rates, according to health officials.
To date, there have been 176 confirmed measles cases in Pennsylvania in 2026. As of August 3, the statistics by county are as follows:
Ongoing measles situation (late April – present)
Previous measles cases (January – March)
For more information about measles and DOH’s actions, visit pa.gov/measles.
