Measles Clarification Statement from ACHD
Published on September 01, 2026
Measles Clarification Statement from the Allegheny County Health Department
PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has no evidence or data to support that any resident currently has measles.
While measles patients may be in the county, ACHD is not informed unless the healthcare provider determines the patient is an Allegheny County resident. Patients who are not residents are handled by the corresponding county or the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Additionally, if a healthcare provider informs the county of potential measles exposure and the provider cannot identify all potentially exposed persons, ACHD will release a statement to inform the community of exposure areas so they can take necessary precautions. For example, ACHD released an informational exposure statement on August 20, 2026.
If a measles case is determined to be an Allegheny County resident, the standard protocol is for a healthcare provider to inform ACHD about the case in order for the health department to follow up with the patient and run contact tracing procedures.
As a reminder, individuals who are not vaccinated are most at-risk for infection. ACHD advises any individual in the exposure area who does has not had two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine to call their healthcare provider for next steps. It is very important for individuals who think they may have been exposed to not directly go to a healthcare facility without calling ahead. For anyone that is unsure, ACHD recommends they check their vaccination status. Individuals who have received only one dose of the vaccine, instead of the recommended two doses, may still be susceptible to the virus.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects the lungs and spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, even after the infected person leaves the area.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the head or face and spreads downward. Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after exposure. An individual with measles can spread the virus to others four days before and four days after the rash begins.
If a person is experiencing any measles symptoms, please contact the healthcare facility ahead of arriving so they can take the proper precautions to ensure measles exposures are isolated and contained.
People who believe they were exposed to measles, and are experiencing symptoms, should contact their health care provider. Residents in Allegheny County who are concerned about a potential exposure should contact ACHD at 412-687-2243. Any residents in Pennsylvania who are concerned about a potential exposure should call the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258). Pennsylvanians can access the measles dashboard, current guidance, and additional information at pa.gov/measles.
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to toddlers when they are 12 to 15 months of age, and a second MMR vaccine is required for all Pennsylvania school children.
The Health Department recommends that any person who is due for measles vaccination make arrangements to receive it from their medical provider. Persons without health insurance may receive the vaccine at the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic at 425 First Ave in Downtown Pittsburgh. There is no risk in getting an additional dose of the MMR vaccine for individuals who are uncertain but may have already received it.
MMR vaccine is available across the state by contacting a health care provider, county or municipal health department, DOH State Health Center, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), or a Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
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The Allegheny County Health Department's mission is to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of the more than 1.2 million people who call Allegheny County home.
Media inquiries may be directed to Ronnie Das,
Public Information Officer for the Health Department,
at ronnie.das@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-578-7991.