Hershey Medical Center Implements Temporary Measles Precautions

HERSHEY, Pennsylvania. —

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has temporarily implemented safety precautions related to possible measles symptoms, according to a Penn State Health spokesperson.

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Precautions began shortly after 10 p.m. and were lifted around 12:30 a.m. Patient care operations continued as normal throughout the response.

Authorities did not say whether a case of measles had been confirmed.

“At no time were the emergency services closed,” the spokesperson said.

Measles Symptoms Protocol

Penn State Health explained the guidelines and protocol for people with measles symptoms, saying:

“Signage outside our hospitals, including our emergency departments, asks people who may have symptoms of measles to call before entering the building. If someone enters despite these guidelines, we follow established safety protocols designed to protect patients, visitors and staff. »

“As a precaution, these measures may include temporarily moving people from affected areas, providing masks, and escorting patients and visitors along controlled routes through parts of the hospital, as needed.”

Pennsylvania reports 1,222 cases of measles

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,222 confirmed cases in 42 counties in 2026, including 86 new cases since October 9.

The department reported:

• 1,222 cumulative cases
• 225 hospitalizations
• Five confirmed deaths associated with measles
• Four cases among vaccinated people, representing less than 1% of reported cases

The Department of Health is also investigating the reported death of a Franklin County resident to determine if it meets the state’s definition of a “measles-associated death.”

The department said such classification requires clinical evidence of measles, a positive laboratory test and death within 30 days of symptom onset, unless death resulted from an unrelated cause.