CDC disease detective joins Pennsylvania measles response as cases hit 1,286
A CDC disease detective joined Pennsylvania's measles response on site Monday. The state has 1,286 cases this year, up 26 since Friday, and five deaths linked to measles. The federal expert will help track where the outbreak is going, and officials are looking into a possible sixth death.
A disease detective from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began working on site with Pennsylvania's Department of Health on Monday as the state's measles outbreak keeps growing, LNP | LancasterOnline and CBS 21 reported.
The officer, from the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service, joins 60 state disease detectives, LNP reported. In all, 300 state staff have been assigned to the response, department spokesman Neil Ruhland said.
The help follows an Oct. 7 request by state Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen for short-term, on-site support known as epi-aid, LNP reported. The CDC officer will help project where cases are headed, estimate how many people have really been infected and judge whether local vaccination efforts are slowing the spread, according to the state.
Pennsylvania has recorded 1,286 measles cases in 42 counties this year, 26 more than on Friday, the outlets reported. Lancaster County alone has 455 cases. The state has reported five measles-associated deaths and is looking into a sixth in Franklin County, where the coroner said the death met the state definition, LNP reported. The state uses that term when there is evidence of measles but the official cause of death is still under investigation.
Experts say the real number of cases is likely higher, because people who do not seek care are not reported, LNP reported. Measles typically kills one to three people per 1,000 cases, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he is confident the CDC will help end the outbreak, CBS 21 reported. Pennsylvania has more cases than any other state.
The health department also issued guidance for pregnant women and newborns, CBS 21 reported. It said getting vaccinated before pregnancy is the best protection. The MMR vaccine should not be given during pregnancy, and women should avoid getting pregnant for 28 days after a dose.
What we know: Pennsylvania has 1,286 cases this year and five measles-associated deaths.
What we don't: Whether the sixth death will be counted as measles-associated.
Where outlets agree LNP and CBS 21 both report that a CDC officer joined the state response Monday, with 1,286 cases and five measles-associated deaths this year.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.