Health Information Portal (HIP)

Measles

Measles activity continues to increase in the United States, including a very large and ongoing outbreak in South Carolina and 5 recently identified cases in Lancaster, PA

In 2025, there were 2,144 cases of measles diagnosed in the US, and 16 of those cases were in PA.

• This is the highest number of measles cases the country has seen in over 30 years.
• There were 3 deaths in 2025 after many years with zero deaths caused by measles.
• The measles vaccine, also called the MMR vaccine, has protected people against measles for over 60 years.

Frequently Asked Questions About Measles

What is measles?

Measles is an extremely contagious virus that is dangerous for babies and young children.

Measles is more contagious than any other virus, which makes it a major concern.

Many infants are unvaccinated, which makes it a major concern in childcare centers.

How does measles spread?

Measles is spread through the air when someone who has measles coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes.

• Germs can stay in a room for two hours after someone with measles has left.

Symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus.

• A person is contagious the 4 days before and the 4 days after the measles rash appear.

How serious is measles?

1 in 5 people in the U.S. who gets measles is hospitalized.

In some people, including infants and those with weakened immune systems, it can be a very serious infection that leads to pneumonia, brain infection, or death.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. About 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people who have close contact with an infected person will get measles if they’re not protected.

When are you considered to be protected from measles?

You are considered protected from measles if you:

• Were born before 1957, or
• Have already had measles, or 
• Have a blood test showing immunity to measles, or 
• Have documentation of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination.
  • Check with your healthcare provider to see if you or your child had the correct doses for their age. 

How can I protect myself and others from measles while traveling?

Measles is still common in many parts of the world, and outbreaks are occurring in parts of the U.S. Unvaccinated travelers can get sick with measles while traveling and possibly bring the measles virus home.

If you’re traveling internationally or to areas of the US with rising measles cases, the following groups should receive a vaccine dose at least 2 weeks before travel:

• Infants who are 6-11 months old (they’ll still get the standard 2 doses for kids after they turn 1).
• Children at least 1 year old who haven’t received their second dose.
• Adults with only one dose and no test results that show they’re immune to measles.

Get vaccinated early. It can take up to 2 weeks to build immunity following the measles vaccine.

See this flyer for more information.

Where can I get vaccinated for measles?

Kids and adults can get vaccinated at their provider’s or pediatrician’s office or at a retail pharmacy.

If your child doesn’t have health insurance, you can get vaccines at a City Health Center. Call ahead to make an appointment or learn about available walk-in hours.

Any Philadelphia resident can get a free MMR vaccine in Philadelphia at these City Health Centers, Monday through Friday, from 9am – 1pm. No appointment or insurance required.

• Health Center 3 – 555 S. 43rd St. | 215-685-7504
• Health Center 4 – 4400 Haverford Ave. | 215-685-7601
• Health Center 5 Annex – 2001 W. Berks St. | 215-685-2933
• Mattie L. Humphrey Health Center (Health Center 9) – 131 E. Chelten Ave. | 215-685-5701
• Strawberry Mansion Health Center – 2840 W. Dauphin St. | 215-685-2401

Measles Resources

Stay Safe from Measles - Get the Facts:

English | Amharic | Spanish | Chinese | French | Haitian Creole | Indonesian | Khmer | Korean | Polish | Portuguese | Russian | Swahili | Ukrainian

Spot Measles Poster for Healthcare Settings:

English | Arabic | Chinese | Dari | French | Indonesian | Russian | Spanish | Urdu

4 Things Parents Need to Know About Measles:

English | Spanish | Chinese | Russian | Vietnamese | Polish | Portuguese | Ukrainian | Dari | Arabic | Korean | Khmer | Indonesian | French | Swahili | Amharic | Haitian Creole

Flyer for Early Childhood Education Centers:

English | Spanish

Measles Social Media Toolkit:

English

Measles Talking Points for Community Leaders

English | Spanish