The Erie County Department of Health reported on Monday that two cases of measles have been reported in Western Pennsylvania.

The department said that both cases were connected to international travel. Officials do not believe there’s a high risk of community spread or exposure due to these cases.

Anyone who might have been exposed will be notified by the department, according to YourErie.

The department did not say if the two infected people were vaccinated but encouraged anyone who’s not up to date to get their MMR vaccine. People who are fully vaccinated are 97% less likely to contract the disease or infect others.

Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread by coughing and sneezing. It can stay in the air for up to two hours and be contracted by breathing in that air or touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, ears or mouth.

Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, small white spots in the mouth and a rash that usually starts behind the ears or face and spreads down the body.

Children under age five, pregnant women, and those with a compromised immune system are at a higher risk of developing more severe complications.

The CDC reports that there have been 378 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. in 2025 so far, including in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Maryland. There has been one confirmed death so far.

• Two special elections will be held in Allegheny and Lancaster counties to fill vacancies in the Pennsylvania legislature.
• The election for the 35th Legislative District seat will determine control of the state House.
• The 36th Senate District seat is expected to remain in Republican control.

Voters in Allegheny and Lancaster counties will choose lawmakers Tuesday to fill two vacancies in the state legislature. 

One will take the place of a state representative who died earlier this year and the other will replace a state senator who resigned to work for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.

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The special election for the 35th Legislative District seat, previously held by Rep. Matthey Gergely, D-Allegheny, will determine control of the state House. Democrats held a one-seat majority in the chamber before Gergley died in January after suffering a medical emergency. 

The 35th District, in the Monongahela River Valley south of Pittsburgh, includes the industrial cities of Clairton, Duquesne and McKeesport, and is favored to remain in Democratic control.

Republicans won a 28-22 majority in the Senate in November, so the election for the 36th Senate District seat formerly held by Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster, is less consequential. Covering a swath of northern Lancaster County including suburbs of the city of Lancaster and rural communities, the 36th District is favored to remain in Republican control. Aument left the Senate after his reelection last year to serve as McCormick’s state director.

More: Pennsylvania lawmakers resume push to allow 1.3 million independents to vote in primaries

Pennsylvania 35th House District candidates

• Democrat Dan Goughnour is a member of the McKeesport Area School Board and captain of detectives in the McKeesport Police Department. Goughnour and his wife, Lauren, live in McKeesport and have three children. He lists public safety, access to job training, strengthening public schools and reducing costs for consumers as his priorities, according to his campaign website. 
• Republican Charles Davis is president of the White Oak borough council where he was first elected to office in 2003 and raised two daughters. Davis said on his campaign website that he plans to take his commitment to his community to the state level and lists developing local energy sources, protecting Pennsylvania industry, reducing crime and lowering taxes among his priorities.
• Libertarian Adam Kitta of White Oak works as assistant director for the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services department. In that role, he has provided aid to victims of disaster and emergency personnel, according to the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. It has also provided experience coordinating with government agencies and other nonprofit organizations. His priorities are economic revitalization of the Mon Valley, increasing volunteerism and criminal justice reform.

Pennsylvania 36th Senate District Candidates

• Democrat James Malone is mayor of East Petersburg and works as a senior development consultant for a business information technology firm. Malone says he is devoted to transparent, compassionate, inclusive and innovative government. His campaign website said his priorities are affordable housing, including support for first-time homeowners and property tax relief; public education; supporting first responders, and expanding social services and mental health support.
• Republican Josh Parsons is the Lancaster County commissioners chairperson, a veteran U.S. Army officer and former assistant district attorney. Parson says on his website he’s a conservative who believes in small, efficient government and plans to bring his success in county government to the state level. He touts his defiance of state COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, Lancaster County’s economic recovery during the emergency and his leadership as an abortion opponent.
• Libertarian Zachary Moore of Mount Joy is a geographic information system specialist with experience improving operations of utilities, planning, environmental resources, public safety and other government functions. He lists government transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility and parental choice in education among his priorities, according to the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.

More: When are Pa. elections happening in 2025? What’s the voter registration deadline?

Peter Hall has been a journalist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 20 years, most recently covering criminal justice and legal affairs for The Morning Call in Allentown. Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.