Pennsylvania's measles outbreak has reached 693 confirmed cases across 38 counties, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on September 14, with 17 new cases since its September 11 update. Hospitalizations rose to 133. The update came one day after the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the state has not asked for the federal field team the agency sends to help investigate outbreaks.
In a statement shared with CNN and published by WKOW, CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz said, "Despite repeated offers of assistance, Pennsylvania has not requested a CDC Epi-Aid, which would deploy epidemiologists and provide on-the-ground measles outbreak support." She said Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wisconsin had officially requested Epi-Aids and that the CDC is ready to help Pennsylvania once the state formally asks.
