Pennsylvania’s health department has issued an alert to physicians about congenital measles, a disease that rarely occurs in the United States but now poses a growing threat as the state experiences a measles outbreak. The state has reported 66 pregnant women infected with measles this year, with at least six babies born with the condition. Of six measles deaths reported statewide, at least two involved infants, though the specific circumstances remain unclear due to privacy restrictions. Medical professionals face challenges addressing this disease because it has been uncommon for decades and lacks comprehensive data collection systems.
Limited information about congenital measles comes from individual case studies, making it difficult for doctors to predict outcomes when pregnant women contract the virus. Pennsylvania recommends women receive the MMR vaccine before pregnancy, as the vaccine cannot be administered during pregnancy due to its live virus component. Unvaccinated pregnant women have a six-day window following measles exposure to receive immunoglobulin treatment. The state currently reports 1,286 total measles cases, with symptoms in infants ranging from asymptomatic to severe multisystem disease.
Source: Read the full story at CIDRAP
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