Since August, six people diagnosed with measles have died in Pennsylvania, according to health officials and county coroners. The CDC has acknowledged two of the deaths on its measles outbreak website, saying the other measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania are “under review.”
“CDC will continue working closely with Pennsylvania health officials to provide the expertise and support needed to respond to the outbreak and protect public health,” a CDC spokesperson wrote in an email Thursday, adding that director Dr. Erica Schwartz recommends the MMR vaccine “as the most effective way to prevent measles and protect against infection.”
Pennsylvania is experiencing the nation’s worst measles outbreak in 30 years, with at least 1,222 confirmed cases and 225 hospitalizations, although doctors say the actual number of illnesses is likely much higher. The outbreak’s epicenter remains in Lancaster County, but is spreading across the state.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the CDC aid.
The CDC team has previously sent teams to other states with large clusters of measles illnesses: Kansas, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Such deployments are usually short -term, about one to three weeks. They’re meant to help mobilize and streamline outbreak containment efforts.
In addition to the deployment, the CDC is releasing nearly $4 million to aid the measles response efforts in Pennsylvania.