Rising Measles Cases Prompt Vaccination Awareness for Families
WHO:
Delawareonline.com - Sean Dooley, spokesperson for the Delaware Division of Public Health.
90.5 WESA - Dr. Debra Bogen, Secretary of Health in Pennsylvania.
90.5 WESA - Jennifer Horney, professor and chair of the University of Delaware's Department of Epidemiology.
WHAT:
Delawareonline.com - An additional case of measles was reported in a child under 10 years old, bringing the total to eight cases in Kent County, Delaware.
Delawareonline.com - The Delaware Division of Public Health stated that the fully vaccinated individual "had milder symptoms, presumably due to vaccination status."
90.5 WESA - The state recorded 35 new measles cases in the last week, with 33 people hospitalized with measles infections so far this year in Pennsylvania.
Delawareonline.com - Delaware health officials declared a measles outbreak after four confirmed cases in late July.
Delawareonline.com - An additional four cases were reported, bringing the total to eight cases, all in Kent County.
Delawareonline.com - Seven out of the eight individuals who tested positive for measles were unvaccinated.
Delawareonline.com - The number of measles cases reported in the U.S. in 2026 has already surpassed the total reported in 2025.
90.5 WESA - Pennsylvania has reported 176 measles cases so far this year, a significant increase compared to 2020 when there were zero cases.
90.5 WESA - Lancaster County recorded the highest number of measles cases in Pennsylvania with 104 cases.
90.5 WESA - 33 people have been hospitalized with measles infections in Pennsylvania this year.
WHERE:
90.5 WESA - Indiana County in western Pennsylvania recorded three cases of measles this year.
Delawareonline.com - The measles outbreak is located in Kent County, Delaware.
90.5 WESA - The measles outbreak in Pennsylvania is largely concentrated in the southeast part of the state, with specific mention of Lancaster County and Indiana County.
WHEN:
Delawareonline.com - The measles outbreak was declared in late July.
90.5 WESA - The health department urged medical providers to offer the MMR vaccine as early as six months in June.
WHY:
Delawareonline.com - The rise in measles cases is attributed to declining vaccination rates nationwide.
90.5 WESA - The new online database for school vaccination rates was launched to provide parents with clear data about their children's schools and to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
HOW:
90.5 WESA - The health department urged medical providers to offer the MMR vaccine as early as six months, with another dose encouraged between 12 and 15 months.
90.5 WESA - Pennsylvania's health and education departments released a detailed online database of school vaccination rates.
90.5 WESA - The state allows medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions from vaccine requirements, contributing to declining vaccination rates.
(UPDATED August 6, 2026 05:06 UTC)
An additional case of measles has been reported in a child under 10 years old in Kent County, Delaware, bringing the total to eight cases in the area. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has seen a surge with 35 new measles cases in the last week, and 33 individuals have been hospitalized this year, including three cases from Indiana County in western Pennsylvania. In response to the outbreak, health officials are urging medical providers to offer the MMR vaccine as early as six months, with a follow-up dose recommended between 12 and 15 months.
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(UPDATED August 5, 2026 23:57 UTC)
Health officials in Delaware have declared a measles outbreak after confirming eight cases in Kent County, with seven of those individuals unvaccinated. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has reported a staggering 176 measles cases this year, a sharp increase from previous years, particularly in Lancaster County where 104 cases have been recorded. The rise in these cases is largely attributed to declining vaccination rates, prompting the launch of a new online database to help parents access vaccination information for schools and combat the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.