Penn State Health Issues Measles Exposure Alert for Lancaster and Hershey Hospitals

Key points

• A person tested positive for measles at the end of last week, leading to exposure alerts at two facilities.
• The individual visited the Lancaster Medical Center Emergency Department from 10:50 p.m. on Oct. 18 to 4:04 a.m. on Oct. 19.
• The patient was later treated at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Hershey, specifically the Pediatric Perianesthesia Unit on Oct. 19.
• Additional exposure occurred in the main lobby and sixth-floor lobby of Golisano Children’s Hospital between 3:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 21.
• Penn State Health is collaborating with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to manage the incident.

Background

This incident occurs amid a significant measles resurgence in Pennsylvania, which has reported over 1,300 cases and five deaths this year. Recent months have seen multiple exposure alerts across the state, including incidents at Philadelphia International Airport and local hospitals, as well as similar alerts in neighboring states like Illinois and Kansas. The CDC has noted that the vast majority of infected individuals lack documented immunity.

Why it matters

Measles is highly contagious, with the virus remaining airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Symptoms, which include fever, cough, and a spreading rash, can appear 7 to 21 days after exposure. Prompt identification and vaccination verification are critical to preventing further transmission in healthcare settings.

What to watch

Individuals who were present at the specified locations and times should verify their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms. Those experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider or the Pennsylvania Department of Health hotline at 877-724-3258 immediately.