At the Center of Pennsylvania's Measles Outbreak: Business as Usual?
In hard-hit Mifflin County, concern for the potentially deadly measles virus has yet to match national alarm. With 229.8 cases per 100,000 residents, the county boasts the state's highest per capita measles rate. Six measles-related deaths, including an unvaccinated 18-year-old, have been reported in Pennsylvania.
This grim reality unfolded in the midst of Goose Day celebrations in Mifflin County, where floats, public officials, and candy-grabbing children created a joyful atmosphere. However, this happiness concealed a stark reality: the county's highest measles infection rate in the state.
Nationally, the rapid spread of measles—once considered eradicated in the U.S.—has sparked increasing warnings from public health experts and coverage in major news outlets tracking case totals and deaths. Yet, during a visit to Mifflin County, few signs of widespread concern or state-led interventions were evident.
Local non-Amish residents expressed detachment, viewing the outbreak as someone else's problem. Elected officials have been reluctant to address the crisis publicly. Even within the Amish community, while disproportionately affected due to low vaccination rates, there was a noticeable lack of public discussion about the issue.