Pennsylvania measles outbreak spreads, with 55 new cases reported since Wednesday

173 people hospitalized and four deaths in state so far, with less than 1% of those infected having been vaccinated

The Pennsylvania department of health (DOH) announced on Friday that 55 new measles cases had been reported in the state since Wednesday, with officials continuing efforts to contain an outbreak of the disease that has spread across dozens of counties.

In a news release, the DOH said that 890 measles cases had been confirmed across 39 counties in the state so far for the year. The outbreak had resulted in 173 hospitalizations in the state and four measles-associated deaths, the statement added.