Pennsylvania’s health department issued an alert Monday about rising measles cases during pregnancy and the return of congenital measles, a condition not seen in the U.S. for decades. The state has recorded 1,286 measles cases this year, with 247 hospitalizations and six reported deaths, though one death is still under investigation. The alert notes that many doctors have never encountered congenital measles because of the long-standing success of the MMR vaccine.
With vaccination rates slipping nationwide, the virus has gained a foothold in under-vaccinated communities. For pregnant people, measles raises the risk of hospitalization, pneumonia, and severe outcomes including miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm labor. Because the MMR vaccine is a live vaccine, it is not recommended during pregnancy; exposed pregnant people may instead receive intravenous immunoglobulin within six days of exposure.
Babies born with congenital measles can face long-term complications, including immune amnesia and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a progressive and fatal neurological disorder. The health alert advises extended clinical follow-up and monitoring for these infants. The source does not address business impacts directly, but the scale of hospitalizations and long-term care needs suggests potential costs for employers and the healthcare system. No other sources were available for comparison.