Smith-Wade-El, Rivera urge Lancaster residents to get vaccinated against measles, stay informed with new dashboard
Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El July 15, 2026 | 2:22 PM
HARRISBURG, July 15 – As Lancaster County experiences the largest measles outbreak in Pennsylvania in 2026, state Reps. Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera, both D-Lancaster, are encouraging residents to get vaccinated against the disease and to stay informed about outbreaks through the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s new measles online dashboard.
“We urge residents to protect themselves against the measles outbreak by getting vaccinated if they are unvaccinated and by staying informed about outbreaks using the Department of Health’s new online dashboard,” Smith-Wade-El and Rivera said in a joint statement. “We are grateful to the Department of Health for expanding public access to information and increasing transparency about measles cases in Pennsylvania.”
Since the beginning of the year, Pennsylvania has reported 105 cases of measles. More than half of those cases — 63 — have been reported in Lancaster County.
The new online dashboard provides up-to-date information on measles outbreaks across Pennsylvania, including case details by county, age and hospitalizations. The dashboard is updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon with the latest available data.
The Department of Health currently provides school vaccination data at the county and state levels. In August, school-level vaccination information will be available online, giving families additional information to guide personal health and educational decisions.
“The one common thread among nearly all measles cases is that individuals are either unvaccinated or unable to confirm their vaccination status,” the representatives said. “For the sake of their families and their communities, we urge all eligible residents to get vaccinated against this preventable disease.”
The representatives also applauded the Department of Health’s response in Lancaster County to counteract the measles outbreak in 2026, including its pop-up measles vaccine clinics. Since cases were first identified in late April, the clinics have administered more than 600 vaccine doses in Lancaster County. By comparison, Department of Health staff administered 179 measles vaccinations in the county during all of 2025.
According to the Department of Health, measles had been essentially eliminated in the U.S. since 2000, thanks to the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective.
Measles: What You Should Know
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), followed by a rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure. Measles can lead to serious complications, including hospitalization and death.
Anyone who believes they were exposed to measles and is experiencing symptoms should contact a health care provider before seeking in-person care or call the Department of Health’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).
More information on measles is available at www.pa.gov/measles.