Pennsylvania measles cases surpass 1,500, state health department says

Nov 9 (Reuters) – The number of measles cases in Pennsylvania reached 1,505 as of Monday, up 18 from the ​previous update on Friday, as ‌the state battles its worst outbreak of the disease in years. Here are more details: • Pennsylvania reported 73 new cases over the past seven days, ‌according ​to the state health ⁠department’s dashboard • Measles-related hospitalizations ⁠rose to 290 from 287 in the previous update • The state has reported six measles-associated deaths this year • People under ​18 accounted for 33% of cases • Fewer than 1% of infected people ⁠in the state were ⁠fully vaccinated • The CDC reported 5,182 ​US measles cases in the US as ​of November 5, the highest annual tally ‌since 1991 • People who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown accounted for 96% of US cases this year • ⁠Pennsylvania remains the state hardest hit by the outbreak, followed by South Carolina and Utah, according ⁠to Centers ‌for Disease Control and Prevention ⁠data • A Pan American Health ​Organization ‌expert commission is due to review ​whether the ⁠US still meets the criteria for measles elimination at its meeting this week. The country has held that status since 2000 (Reporting by Kunal Das in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Sahal Muhammed)