The Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health are notifying the public of a potential measles exposure at two health facilities in Philadelphia.
Anyone who visited the South Philadelphia Health & Literacy Center at 1700 South Broad Street on Friday, March 7, between 10:45 a.m. and 2:40 p.m., and Saturday, March 8, between 9:05 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. may have been exposed. This building includes CHOP Pediatric Primary Care South Philadelphia, Health Department Health Center #2, and the South Philadelphia Library, though officials said there were no potential exposures in the library.
In West Philadelphia, health officials said there was also a potential measles exposure at the CHOP Emergency Department (3401 Civic Center Boulevard) on Monday, March 10, between 7:55 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
The first case of measles in Pennsylvania in 2025 was reported by the Montgomery County Department of Health and it was related to international travel, not a local outbreak. The unvaccinated child had been several places in Philadelphia and Montgomery County between Feb. 25 and Feb. 26, 2025.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health stated the measles case in Philadelphia was exposed while traveling abroad and is not connected with the case in Montgomery County, or outbreaks in other parts of the country.
Measles has been considered eradicated in the U.S. since 2000, but there continues to be outbreaks in the country largely in unvaccinated populations. Currently there is a major measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico.
“We believe there is no threat to the general public associated with this case of measles.” said Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson. “We know that this measles case is not associated with either the recent case in Montgomery County or the ongoing outbreak in Texas.
“As vaccination rates across the country continue to drop, there are more and more opportunities for people who cannot be vaccinated to be exposed to this deadly disease. That’s why it is critical for everyone who needs to be protected from measles to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Stay protected
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily among unprotected people. Anyone with the virus can spread it to others who are not immune through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Early symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and puffy eyes, followed by a rash.
Measles is contagious for 4 days before to 4 days after the rash starts. In some people, including infants and those with weakened immune systems, it can be a very serious infection that leads to pneumonia, brain infection, or death.
In the wake of increasing number of measles cases nationwide and internationally, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health is encouraging routine and catchup vaccinations.
Generally, people are considered protected if you were born before 1957, have already had measles or have a blood test showing immunity to measles, as well as those who have received vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR vaccine).
The measles vaccine is routinely recommended for children 12–15 months old with a second dose given at age 4–6 years. Infants under 12 months are not routinely eligible for vaccine and are not protected.
“The two-dose MMR vaccine series is 97 percent effective in preventing measles infections and confers lifelong protection,” said Health Department Immunization Program Medical Director Dr. Mayssa Abuali.
If you are protected from measles, you do not have to do anything, health experts say, adding that the vaccine is extremely effective at preventing the virus.
If you were exposed
Those who have potentially been exposed to measles and are not vaccinated, should quarantine or stay at home away from others, for 21 days after the exposure, according to health experts.
Any unprotected person who was at the CHOP Emergency Department on March 10 between 7:55 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. should receive a dose of MMR vaccine before Thursday, March 13. The Health Department has additional resources on where to get vaccines on their website. Those who do not receive the MMR vaccine, need to stay home for 21 days.
Any unprotected person who was exposed at the South Philadelphia Health & Literacy Center on March 7 and 8 should contact your healthcare provider and stay at home until Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28.
Anyone under 12 months of age, pregnant and not immune or have a weakened immune system who was at any of the exposure locations, should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
What to do if you have symptoms
Measles is extremely contagious and can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.
If you develop any measles-like symptoms (fever, runny nose, cough, puffy eyes, rash) through Monday, March 31, contact your doctor immediately. Tell your doctor before visiting that you may have been exposed to the virus. You should also notify the Philadelphia Department of Public Health by calling 215-685-6740, then pressing option 5.
Parents looking for vaccine opportunities for their children should visit the Health Department’s Get Vaccinated webpage or talk with their pediatrician. Residents who may be traveling in the future should visit the Health Department’s Travel Vaccines webpage or talk with their healthcare provider. Residents who do not know if they were vaccinated can request their Philadelphia-based vaccine records by requesting immunization records through the Health Department.
