Health

Measles cases in Pennsylvania have surpassed 1,000 so far this year as the state continues to battle an outbreak of the virus.

Monday’s update from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) brings the total number of 2026 measles cases in the state to 1,004 across 39 counties.

At least 198 people have been hospitalized, and five measles-associated deaths have been reported, DOH data shows.

Two of the deaths were among unvaccinated adults: an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old. The other two deaths were among infants who were too young to have received the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The fifth death occurred in an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, but it is unclear how old the individual is. Lancaster County is the epicenter of the state’s outbreak, with 391 cases confirmed so far.

Fewer than 1% of the state’s cases are among those who are fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, according to DOH.

Last week, following confirmation of the fifth death by the Pennsylvania health department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told ABC News in a statement it was “deeply saddened to hear of another death” in the state.

“Under Secretary [Robert F.] Kennedy’s leadership, CDC has mounted an aggressive response to measles outbreaks across the country. Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin requested CDC Epi-Aids and worked alongside federal teams to help bring their outbreaks rapidly and successfully under control,” the statement read.

“CDC has not received a formal Epi-Aid request from Pennsylvania. If requested, CDC stands ready to deploy epidemiologists to support the state’s identified needs,” the statement continued.

A CDC Epi-Aid is a rapid, short-term field investigation from the federal health agency of an “urgent public health problem.” The Epi-Aid provides resources such as, but not limited to, increasing the workforce available for rapid response and building epidemiologic capacity, according to the CDC.

Meanwhile, measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 3,800 so far in 2026, with cases confirmed in 45 states and Washington, D.C., according to the latest data from the CDC.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective in preventing measles infection and two doses are 97% effective, the CDC says.

Infants aged 6 to 11 months living in or traveling to high-risk outbreak areas may receive an early, extra third dose of the MMR vaccine.

However, CDC data shows vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years. During the 2025 to 2026 school year, 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine, according to data. This is lower than the 95.2% seen in the 2019 to 2020 school year, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Pennsylvania, more than 8,800 doses of the MMR vaccine have been administered by DOH staff. Of those doses, about 3,500 were administered in August and more than 2,500 were administered in September.

ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.

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Measles cases in Pennsylvania have surpassed 1,000 so far this year as the state continues to battle an outbreak of the virus.

Monday’s update from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) brings the total number of 2026 measles cases in the state to 1,004 across 39 counties.

At least 198 people have been hospitalized, and five measles-associated deaths have been reported, DOH data shows.

Two of the deaths were among unvaccinated adults: an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old. The other two deaths were among infants who were too young to have received the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The fifth death occurred in an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, but it is unclear how old the individual is. Lancaster County is the epicenter of the state’s outbreak, with 391 cases confirmed so far.

Fewer than 1% of the state’s cases are among those who are fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, according to DOH.

Last week, following confirmation of the fifth death by the Pennsylvania health department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told ABC News in a statement it was “deeply saddened to hear of another death” in the state.

“Under Secretary [Robert F.] Kennedy’s leadership, CDC has mounted an aggressive response to measles outbreaks across the country. Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin requested CDC Epi-Aids and worked alongside federal teams to help bring their outbreaks rapidly and successfully under control,” the statement read.

“CDC has not received a formal Epi-Aid request from Pennsylvania. If requested, CDC stands ready to deploy epidemiologists to support the state’s identified needs,” the statement continued.

A CDC Epi-Aid is a rapid, short-term field investigation from the federal health agency of an “urgent public health problem.” The Epi-Aid provides resources such as, but not limited to, increasing the workforce available for rapid response and building epidemiologic capacity, according to the CDC.

Meanwhile, measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 3,800 so far in 2026, with cases confirmed in 45 states and Washington, D.C., according to the latest data from the CDC.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective in preventing measles infection and two doses are 97% effective, the CDC says.

Infants aged 6 to 11 months living in or traveling to high-risk outbreak areas may receive an early, extra third dose of the MMR vaccine.

However, CDC data shows vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years. During the 2025 to 2026 school year, 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine, according to data. This is lower than the 95.2% seen in the 2019 to 2020 school year, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Pennsylvania, more than 8,800 doses of the MMR vaccine have been administered by DOH staff. Of those doses, about 3,500 were administered in August and more than 2,500 were administered in September.

ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The U.S. State Department is monitoring a reportedly fatal case of “pneumonia of an unknown etiology” linked to a plague research laboratory in Russia.

“We are aware of ​reports of a fatal case of suspected pneumonic plague in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. We are monitoring the situation closely with the CDC and our other interagency partners,” a spokesperson from the State Department said.

“Many details have not been confirmed. We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly,” the spokesperson added.

Where the case of plague has been detected

Health authorities in Russia’s Irkutsk region launched anti-epidemic measures after an employee of a plague institute was diagnosed with “pneumonia of an unknown etiology,” the country’s sanitary watchdog agency, Rospotrebnadzor, confirmed on Sunday.

The lab involved is the Anti-Plague Research Institute in Shelekhov, in southern Siberia, Russia. 

The statement comes after some Russian media and public figures reported a death potentially due to the plague and linked to a lab worker. Russian officials did not provide further details on the worker.

The Russian agency’s statement said that “no accidents have been detected at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute while working with pathogenic microorganisms.”

Their statement added that “the sanitary and epidemiological situation” in the Irkutsk Region, the cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov, is “stable.”

How Russian authorities are responding

Regional governor Igor Kobzev said in a statement on Friday that people who had contact with a resident who contracted a “particularly dangerous infection” were placed under medical observation.

Responding to the growing speculation, the governor on Monday said that “no microorganisms associated with the woman’s professional activities were found in her biomaterials” and that no other lab workers have sought medical help in recent days. 

Officials said none of the identified contacts were showing symptoms so far and their laboratory tests were negative, according to Kobzev.

Before Rospotrebnadzor reported that the employee’s illness was due to pneumonia with an unknown cause, Alexei Tsydenov, the head of Buryatia, a region neighboring Irkutsk Oblast, suggested that a woman may have died of the plague.

Citing Buryatia’s health officials, Tsydenov wrote in a post on his Telegram channel on Friday that “the woman who died – possibly from the plague – in the Irkutsk Region had not visited Buryatia,” assuring Buryatia residents that “there are no plague outbreaks in the republic.”

Amid the investigation, some protective measures have been announced in the region. A mask mandate has been implemented at the Irkutsk Aluminum Plant in Shelekhov, according to the plant’s director, Artem Fominykh. 

“Better safe than sorry,” Fominykh wrote in a post on his Telegram channel on Saturday, asking the employees to “follow the precautions.” He added that some conflicting information about the situation is circulating in Shelekhov, and urged the plant employees to seek medical attention immediately if they experience any symptoms.

US response

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement on Sunday that it is “monitoring the situation closely” with the State Department.

“The safety and security of U.S. citizens is our highest priority,” the CDC said.

“Many details have not been confirmed. We encourage Russian authorities to share accurate information quickly and openly,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.

“Plague is a known disease and is treatable with common antibiotics, especially when treatment starts early. Cases occur naturally in many parts of the world,” the statement added.

What to know about plague and its transmission

Plague is a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, according to the CDC.

Humans can contract the disease after being bitten by an infected rodent flea, coming into contact with contaminated fluid or tissue from an infected animal or by inhaling infected droplets in the air.

There are three types of plague: bubonic, pneumonic and septicemic. Symptoms often include fever, chills, and weakness.

Pneumonic is the most serious form and the only one that can potentially spread between people. It occurs when bacteria spread to the lungs of a patient with untreated bubonic or septicemic plague, or when a person inhales infectious droplets, according to the CDC. 

Bubonic plague is infamously responsible for the deaths of millions of people in Europe during the 1300s. While the disease still exists, modern medicine and public health efforts have made it less threatening.

Plague can be treated with a course of antibiotics. The earlier antibiotics are received, the higher are the chances of a full recovery.

The U.S. averages about seven cases of plague each year, mostly on the West Coast in states such as Arizona and New Mexico, according to the CDC. It’s been more than a century since the U.S. has seen a documented case of person-to-person spread of plague, per the CDC.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday it has found a potential source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak that was tied to lettuce over the summer.

The agency collected samples during its onsite inspections of Taylor Farms de Mexico facilities, it said.

Two samples tested positive for the parasite, Cyclospora, according to the FDA. One positive sample was from a tank that held outgoing wastewater from a processing facility, the agency said. The second positive sample was from a drainage ditch of an iceberg lettuce grower, it noted.

“While there is currently not enough evidence to conclusively determine how contamination occurred in this outbreak, the positive samples show that Cyclospora was present in the environment where lettuce was grown and processed,” the FDA wrote in an update on its website.

“This adds to the strong epidemiological data and traceback convergence supporting the link between this outbreak and recalled shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico,” the update continued.

The FDA said its investigation has closed. Health officials say they are confident that all recalled lettuce associated with this outbreak is off the market.  

In a statement, a Taylor Fresh Foods spokesperson said its facility in central Mexico remains closed as the company works with its research team to implement enhanced safety protocols.

“The independent grower where a positive sample was found is no longer part of our supplier program,” the spokesperson said. “The sample FDA referenced came from discharged waste and sewer water outside of our processing facility. As FDA noted in its report, there is currently not enough evidence to conclusively determine how contamination occurred or how results for these samples relate to ongoing genotyping of clinical specimens.”

The statement concluded: “We remain concerned for the people and families impacted by this outbreak. Millions of families rely on the safety of Taylor Farms produce and we take that responsibility seriously. We know trust is earned by what we do, and we will continue to learn, improve and take action to keep our food fresh and safe.” 

At least 12,883 people were infected with cyclosporiasis across 21 states after eating the recalled lettuce, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thousands more cases were reported but health officials noted difficulties in tying infections to the recalled foods.

A total of 570 people were hospitalized and two people in Michigan died.  

In mid-July, the FDA and the CDC announced they were investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants.

The lettuce was supplied to Taco Bell by Taylor Farms and sourced from central Mexico.

Taylor Farms de Mexico issued a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, with the recall affecting 27 states. The recalled products were distributed from June 29 through July 16 and have best-if-used-by dates up to Aug. 3.

Taco Bell said it is no longer using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico at any of its restaurants.

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(NEW YORK) — San Francisco health officials this week reported the city’s first flu death of the 2026-27 flu season.

The person was an adult, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), but no other information was provided.

“This sad news reminds us that respiratory viruses such as flu and COVID should be taken very seriously, especially for people who are at higher risk of getting sick,” Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer, said in a statement on Thursday. “With fall festivities approaching, we want people to stay healthy and do all the fun and joyful things they want to do. Vaccines help make this happen.”

Data from the California Department of Public Health shows 26 individuals have died so far from flu statewide this season. It’s unclear if this total includes the San Francisco patient.

The deaths have occurred relatively early in the respiratory virus season. According to the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tabulation, flu season doesn’t start for another two weeks.

Current levels of respiratory virus activity nationally are listed as “very low,” according to CDC data. 

Although flu circulates year-round, cases typically increase in the fall and winter months. The CDC advises that people get their flu vaccine before the end of October. 

Everyone over the age of 6 months is currently eligible for a flu vaccine. Older adults — over 65 years old — may be eligible for a higher dose version. 

The shots are available at most pharmacies and doctors’ offices. The flu vaccine is often free of charge, with most health insurance covering the shot. 

The SFDPH also recommends staying up to date with COVID and RSV vaccines in line with recommendations from the state’s health department.

The updated 2026-27 COVID vaccine is recommended for:

• Those ages 6 to 23 months and ages 65 and older
• Those ages 2 to 18 with risk factors or never vaccinated against COVID-19
• Those ages 19 to 64 with risk factors
• Anyone who is planning pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum
• Anyone in close contact with others with risk factors, including healthcare workers

The RSV vaccine is recommended for:

• Previously unvaccinated adults ages 75 and older, and ages 50 to 74 with risk factors
• Previously unvaccinated pregnant people 32 to 36 weeks gestation

Infants younger than 8 months whose mother did not receive a vaccine while pregnant and high-risk children ages 8 to 19 months are eligible to receive an injectable monoclonal antibody shot to protect against RSV.

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(WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration has begun mailing out $500 Affordable Care Act (ACA) checks to enrollees who were allegedly overcharged for coverage.

The Treasury Department is issuing the checks to 950,000 Americans in 30 states due to marketplace “user fee” overcharges, according to the administration.

In a video posted on X last month announcing the initiative, President Donald Trump claimed without evidence that the Biden administration sat on a pool of unused surplus money.

Here’s what to know about who is eligible, where the checks are being sent and when they may arrive.

Who is eligible?

An administration official told ABC News on Thursday that the primary recipients of the checks will be people with incomes “above” 400% of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level is $15,960 a year for an individual in the contiguous 48 states and Washington, D.C.

However, some recipients are those who earn between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level who did not receive subsidies, the official said.

Residents in the following states will receive checks: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The administration official told ABC News that residents in these 30 states “do not operate their own ACA insurance plan exchanges and instead rely on federal exchanges administered by [the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services].”

The official said residents in the 20 remaining states will not receive checks “because their states run their exchanges, and thus the federal government did not oversee collecting user fees on them.”

Texas and Florida have the highest numbers of individuals who will be receiving refund checks followed by Wisconsin, Arizona and Oregon, respectively, according to data provided by the administration.

Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told ABC News he’s skeptical the checks will be going to the Americans most in need.

The payment “does not target the people most likely to have been harmed by the policy changes made by the administration, including the end of the tax credits,” Anderson said.

The subsidies, or premium tax credits, helped lower or eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of monthly premiums for those who purchase insurance through the health insurance marketplace. They expired at the end of last year and have yet to be renewed.

Anderson added that the check amount is also not tied to a person’s medical condition, which has a large impact on the cost of their premiums.

When will the checks be delivered?

Initially, the administration said checks would be sent to eligible Americans beginning in October 2026, but the administration official said the checks were sent out beginning Wednesday.

It’s unclear how long it will take eligible Americans to receive the checks.

The checks will also come with a letter, according to the administration official.

“For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov,” the letter, viewed by ABC News, reads in part. “That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you.”

The checks are separate from a proposal Trump made during the GOP midterm convention in Dallas to offer a $5,000 “dividend” to all adult Americans if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections.

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Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, with one in eight developing breast cancer in their lifetime.

It is expected that more than 381,000 new cases of invasive, non-invasive and pre-invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women this year and about 42,000 women will die, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Knowing your personal risk of developing breast cancer risk could help you and your doctor choose the right screening schedule and prevention methods.

ABC News is teaming up with the ACS for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The American Cancer Society encourages women to take the ACS CancerRisk360 free assessment to learn more about the factors they can change to improve their health and lower their cancer risk.

The tool is available to use for anyone ages 18 and older. The tool asks questions about things that can raise an individual’s cancer risk, including:

Individual health historyFamily health historyDaily habits and lifestyleCancer screening history

Based on someone’s answers, the tool gives tips on how to lower one’s cancer risk.

Cancer risk can be controlled or modified with several lifestyle changes including diet, physical activity, tobacco use, HPV vaccination and sun/UV protection, according to ACS. Certain risk factors — such as age and family history — cannot be controlled or modified.

The tool does not cover every type of cancer but does offer steps to lower the risk for cancers such as breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer.

“Understanding your cancer risk should make the next step clearer, not more complicated,” Shane Jacobson, CEO of the American Cancer Society, said in a statement. “CancerRisk360 gives people trusted, personalized guidance they can use to start a conversation with their healthcare provider and take practical steps that may help lower their risk.”

ACS says the tool is not a substitute for speaking with and getting medical advice from an individual’s doctor.

“Always talk to a qualified health care provider who knows your situation and personal health needs,” ACS states on its website. “Do not ignore or delay getting professional medical advice because of anything you read in this assessment or in your recommendations.”

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Oct. 1 marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, putting a spotlight on the second most common cancer diagnosed among women.

Although the rates of women diagnosed with breast cancer have increased, death rates have been declining and five-year survival rates have risen.

It’s not just women; men are also diagnosed with the disease. Additionally, disparities persist among races and ethnicities.

Here’s what you need to know about breast cancer by the numbers. 

Diagnosis rates

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, aside from skin cancer, with more than 320,000 new invasive cases expected each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). 

Breast cancer diagnoses have risen with a 1% increase per year in recent years, ACS says.

“Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, but most women diagnosed with breast cancer do very well and outcomes have improved tremendously over the years,” Hannah Rose Naughton, breast surgical oncologist at Hackensack Meridian Health, told ABC News. 

Breast cancer accounts for roughly one in every three new cancers diagnosed in women each year and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S., behind lung cancer, according to the ACS.

“The earlier we find the cancer, the better the outcome for the patient,” Naughton said. 

While breast cancer affects women far more often, the disease can also occur in men. 

“One percent of breast cancer cases occur in men; it’s extremely rare,” Priya Thomas, breast oncologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told ABC News.

Declining death rates

The breast cancer death rate among U.S. women decreased by 44% from 1989 to 2024, preventing an estimated 500,000 to 517,900 deaths, according to ACS.  

“The decrease in breast cancer death rates is probably a combination of our screening advances, as well as advances in the treatments that we have for different subtypes of breast cancer,” Thomas said. “Artificial intelligence is also being investigated and possibly can also increase sensitivity and detection.” 

Improving survival rates

In the late 1970s, the five-year relative survival rate for women with invasive breast cancer — which compares how many patients are alive five years after diagnosis with people of the same age who don’t have cancer — was roughly 75%.

As of 2022, it is above 90%, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The increase reflects major advances in screening and earlier diagnosis.

Where breast cancers are found

Stage at diagnosis remains one of the biggest predictors of outcome. 

Most breast cancers are discovered before they have spread to other parts of the body, according to the NCI. 

About 64% of cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning the cancer has not spread beyond the breast. About 27% have spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissue, and about 6% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. About 2% have an unknown stage. 

“If you feel a lump, if you notice a skin change, if you notice nipple discharge or any change that is different from your normal baseline, that warrants an evaluation by your provider,” Thomas said.

Persisting disparities

The burden of breast cancer is not shared equally. 

“Black women are more likely to develop triple-negative breast cancer, which can be a more aggressive subtype, and unfortunately they do have a higher breast cancer mortality rate,” Naughton said.

As with many other diseases,  the risk of breast cancer increases with age. The average age at breast cancer diagnosis in women is 63, according to the NCI. 

In men, the ACS reports the average age at diagnosis is between 60 and 70. Although for both women and men, the disease can occur at virtually any age, and diagnosis at a younger age is linked to increased mortality.

“I know that recently some of the guidelines, depending on where you’re looking, have changed and may recommend mammograms every one to two years, but I still recommend yearly mammograms starting at age 40 for women at average risk,”  Naughton said. 

Beyond regular screening, experts say being aware of changes in your body is important.

“The most important message is that you shouldn’t ignore a change in your breast,” Naughton said. 

Dr. Tara Howard is a fourth-year dermatology resident and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.

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(NEW YORK) — As cases of dengue fever continue to rise in Florida, public health specialists are worried the true number of infections may be greater.

For the week ending Sept. 19, at least 190 cases of locally acquired dengue have been confirmed in the state, an increase of 38 cases from the week before, according to data from the Florida Department of Health (DOH).

Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, is reporting the highest number of cases at 170 followed by Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Pinellas counties, DOH data shows.

“There’s evidence of local transmission of dengue in several counties in Florida,” Natalie Dean, an associate professor of biostatistics and informatics at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, told ABC News. “Dengue is not endemic to the United States. That means that it doesn’t typically cause local transmission.”

She added, “There can be occasional outbreaks in the U.S. but this one is notable for its size.”

Last week, DOH reported the state’s first death from dengue fever this year but did not provide any details about the patient including name, age, sex or residence.

Three counties — Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas — declared local states of emergency last week. These allow local governments to waive normal procedures, access emergency resources and strengthen efforts to control mosquito populations.

Pinellas County crews have been going door to door and spraying areas with high mosquito presence, according to local ABC News affiliate WFTS.

“I don’t recall a [period] of time when it’s been this high in such a sort of concentrated area before,” Cameron Wolfe, an infectious diseases specialist and a professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, told ABC News.

Wolfe said there may be an underestimate of the true number of cases in Florida. Cases of dengue can be mild, and people may recover on their own or never be tested. Because dengue can resemble a flu-like illness, patients may never suspect the source of their infection.

Additionally, he said that reporting of confirmed cases to either local state departments or the CDC can lag.

“For every case that we know, there’s going to be a bunch that we never find out about,” Wolfe said.

Dean added that people can be infected with dengue multiple times over the course of their life, but it’s usually the second or later infection that is more severe, leading to further underreporting.

“I always think of like the top of an iceberg,” Dean said. “We’re only capturing some of the some of the cases.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told ABC News in a statement on Tuesday that the agency is “closely tracking dengue activity” and the “unprecedented” number of cases in the Tampa area.

The CDC also said they’ve provided $800,000 in emergency funds to help with the response.

“Because the types of mosquitoes that spread dengue, Aedes aegypti, are common throughout many areas of the United States, continued local spread of dengue is possible,” the CDC statement said. “The best way to prevent dengue is to protect yourself from mosquito bites by using EPA-registered insect repellant, wearing loose fitting clothes, and controlling mosquitoes in and around your home, such as dumping water.”

Some research has shown that climate change could be expanding the geographic range and severity of dengue fever.

Rising global temperature coupled with more rainfall and humidity — leading to standing water pools that serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes — could increase the number of cases.

“Global warming and climate change, in fact, leave places like Florida more wet and more capable of housing these mosquito vectors, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a little more of a perpetual thing,” Wolfe said.

ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.

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(NEW YORK) — At least 13 new measles cases have been confirmed in Pennsylvania since Friday, bringing the total so far this year to 903, according to Monday’s update from the state health department.

Cases have been recorded in 39 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. At least 176 people have been hospitalized, and four measles-associated deaths have been reported, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) said.

Two of the deaths were among unvaccinated adults: an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old. The other two deaths were among infants who were too young to have received the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Fewer than 1% of the state’s cases — four in total — are among those who are fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, according to DOH.

The majority of cases are among those between ages 25 and 49, followed by those between ages 18 and 24, according to state health department data.

Lancaster County in southeastern Pennsylvania has recorded the highest number of cases at 363 followed by Mifflin County, in the central part of the state, with 105.

At least 11 counties show evidence of community transmission, which is when infectious illness spreads through a local population without any known travel history and the specific source of infection cannot be determined.

DOH data shows staff have administered more than 8,300 doses of the MMR vaccine so far this year. Uptake was highest in August with about 3,500 vaccine doses administered, followed by September with about 2,500 doses administered.

Meanwhile, measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 3,600 so far in 2026, with cases confirmed in 45 states and Washington, D.C., according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC has reported one death from measles so far this year but did not say where the death occurred. A note on the agency’s website said the number “is subject to change.”

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Infants who are between 6 and 11 months old and traveling outside of the country may require an additional vaccination. One dose is 93% effective in preventing measles infection and two doses are 97% effective, the CDC says.

However, CDC data shows vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years. During the 2025 to 2026 school year, 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine, according to data. This is lower than the 95.2% seen in the 2019 to 2020 school year, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If you’ve been exposed, it is important to talk to a healthcare professional, but don’t go into an urgent care or an ER because you may be inevitably spreading it to other vulnerable people,” ABC News medical contributor Dr. Alok Patel told “ABC News Live” on Friday.

“People who have been exposed may be instructed to quarantine or keep really close eye on their symptoms for up to 21 days because that’s how long it can really take for measles to show itself and you could potentially spread and infect others without even knowing it,” Patel added.

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