In less than a week, two Allegheny County residents have tested positive for measles.
On Oct. 5, the county health department said an unvaccinated minor had been sickened by the virus causing an outbreak that's left five people dead in Pennsylvania. Then, on Oct. 8, the agency confirmed that a second resident had contracted the virus.
Here's what to know.
Who has measles in Allegheny County?
A second Allegheny County resident tested positive for measles, the county health department said on Oct. 8. They did not provide any information about the individual's age, vaccination status or potential exposures, though Pittsburgh's Public Source reported that the individual was a child at a private Christian school in the North Hills. USA TODAY reached out to Allegheny County Health Department
for additional details and was awaiting a response at the time of publication.
Earlier in the week, an unvaccinated minor tested positive for measles, according to an Oct. 5 release from Allegheny County Health Department. They did not provide any additional information about the individual, citing privacy concerns.
Was I exposed to measles in Allegheny County?
A spokesperson for Allegheny County Health Department told Pittsburgh's Public Source that the department was working with school officials at Eden Christian Academy to contain the spread, with spokesperson Ronnie Das saying the health department has "been providing specific guidance to the school nurse and administration of an impacted school on how to organize lists of immune staff and students and ensuring school staff understands who needs to quarantine and for how long."
Eden Christian Academy has elementary school campuses in Ross and Pine, as well as a school for older children in Ohio Township. A spokesperson for the school didn't say which campus was impacted.
While there were no school-related exposures involving the first measles case, other locals could have come into contact with the virus, according to the health department. Shoppers at the Ross Township Target, located at 9805 McKnight Road, may have been exposed to measles on Thursday, Oct. 1 between 3:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
What should I do if I was exposed to measles?
If you believe you may have been exposed to measles, you should talk to your healthcare provider about what to do, the county health department said. Do not go to a healthcare facility without calling ahead.
Those who are unvaccinated are most at risk of catching measles. Anyone who is partially vaccinated, meaning they received one dose of the MMR vaccine rather than the recommended two, may still be susceptible to the disease. Two doses of the vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
If you were vaccinated in Pennsylvania, you can check your vaccination status on the state department of health's website.
If you have not been vaccinated, you should schedule your shots with your healthcare provider or the immunization clinic in Downton Pittsburgh, the county health department said. If you're uncertain if you've been vaccinated, there's no risk in getting an additional dose of the MMR vaccine.
What are the symptoms of measles? How does measles spread?
Measles spreads when a person infected with the virus breathes, coughs or sneezes. It spreads through the air and on surfaces, and it can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person has left an area.
The illness starts with fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, and is then followed by a rash that begins on the head or face and spreads downward. Symptoms can show up seven to 21 days after exposure, and a person is contagious four days before and four days after the rash begins.
How many measles cases are there in Pennsylvania?
As of Oct. 9 morning, there were 1,078 confirmed cases of measles throughout Pennsylvania, thought Pennsylvania Department of Health was expected to update that number later in the afternoon.
Across the state, there had been five measles-associated deaths, and 207 people had been hospitalized with measles in 2026. More than 99% of all cases occurred in people who were not fully vaccinated.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Allegheny County school site of second confirmed measles case this week
