According to the Montgomery Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Health, on January 29, 2026, an individual with measles visited Patient First Primary and Urgent Care-Collegeville. This case is the first reported in Montgomery County in 2026, and has since been joined by a second detection in Limerick. At the time of publication, there have been eight cases of measles in Pennsylvania since the New Year. These incidents mirror a recent surge of measles across the country.
What is measles?
Measles is an extremely contagious viral disease that first causes a dry cough, a high fever, a runny nose, and eye irritation. These symptoms take seven to 14 days to appear. As the infection progresses, it then causes an infamous uneven rash — red on lighter skin tones, or brown and purple on darker skin — that is first noticeable on the face and spreads down the body. Measles spreads via airborne transmission, and it can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.
Dr. Lauren Martin of the Wellness Center also notes that its complications can range from ear infections, to pneumonia, to, rarely, immune system effects; the American Society for Microbiology explains that the virus can cause “immune amnesia,” in which the “memory cells” of your immune system, called lymphocytes, are replaced with measles-tailored lymphocytes, leaving you extremely vulnerable to all other pathogens. This amnesia can take two to three years to recover from.
Measles is an extremely preventable disease. Two doses of the MMR vaccine prevent infection with 97% effectiveness, and the measles vaccine is widely considered safe. The risk for serious complications is outstandingly small: one study found that 5.3 per every 100,000 vaccinated individuals will face severe side effects with a “possible or indeterminate” causal relationship with the MMR vaccine. 20% of unvaccinated people infected with measles will be hospitalized. One in 500 will die. If infected, a vaccinated individual will also have less severe symptoms and fewer complications, and they are less likely to spread the disease to others.
Where in Montco could I have been exposed?
According to The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, there have been three possible exposure locations in Collegeville and Limerick. They are as follows:
Patient First Primary and Urgent Care – Collegeville, Collegeville.
January 29th, 2026, 1:15 to 4:15 PM.
Nissan 422 of Limerick, Royersford.
February 16, 2026, 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
February 18, 2026, 8:45 a.m. to 7:15 p.m
Wawa, 579 N. Lewis Road, Limerick
February 16, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m
February 18, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m
February 19, 2026, 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m
If you believe you may have been exposed to measles, isolate and contact the Wellness Center. After hours, contact urgent care by phone first and explain the situation. Do not arrive without notice — healthcare facilities need time to prepare in order to prevent spread.
What can students and community members do?
If you are not vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine, and you can be vaccinated, get vaccinated. The MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and accessible. The CVS on Park Avenue provides MMR vaccination. Get vaccinated. If you need help navigating the vaccination process, the Wellness Center is well-prepared to provide support. If you don’t know your vaccination status, the Wellness Center can provide you with your records. If you have any doubts about the veracity of your records, the CVS on Park Avenue also provides titer (immunity) tests.
Regardless of your vaccination status, it’s also important to abide by the usual disease prevention recommendations: cover your coughs and sneezes, stay home if sick, and wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.
Those who are displaying measles symptoms or have reason to believe they’ve been exposed should isolate and contact the Wellness Center. Do not go to class or work, and do not go to campus facilities. If you visit a healthcare facility on- or off-campus, call in advance so that they may take the necessary precautions to prevent transmission.
Why is measles spiking?
Outbreaks due to lack of vaccination. While the recent cases of measles in Montgomery County don’t reflect an outbreak at this time, other parts of the country, like South Carolina, Utah, and Florida, are facing dozens (or in South Carolina’s case, over 600) cases of measles in 2026 alone. According to the CDC, there have been seven new outbreaks since the New Year. These outbreaks reflect a lack of herd immunity — that is, not enough people in the area are vaccinated to prevent spread of the disease en masse. For measles, herd immunity arises at about 95% vaccinated. According to Martin, the MMR vaccine is required amongst Ursinus students, and religious and medical exemptions are rare; Wellness currently has no concerns about herd immunity on campus and continues to collaborate with local public health authorities to address the situation. In addition, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to report their vaccination status and, if needed, receive both doses of the MMR vaccine.
In 2025, there were 2,281 confirmed cases of measles in the United States– the most since 1991. In 2026, there have already been 982. That is 4.7 times as many as were reported this time last year.
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