Health officials warn travelers who stopped at the New Stanton Service Plaza on the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike on August 17, 2026, of a potential measles exposure after an out-of-state visitor tested positive. Anyone who visited the plaza should check their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms over a 21-day window.
Pennsylvania health authorities are tracking a potential public health exposure following a confirmed case of measles in an out-of-state traveler. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is informing the public of a possible measles exposure after a positive test in a person that visited the New Stanton Service Plaza on the westbound side of the PA Turnpike last month. Health officials said in a release Wednesday that a person from outside the state tested positive for measles and may have exposed others at the New Stanton Service Plaza on the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County. The spread of measles around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has continued, with the state Department of Health advising people if they used a popular Western PA rest stop recently, they may want to monitor for symptoms.
New Stanton Service Plaza Exposure Locations and Timeline
The individual was said to have stopped at the plaza on Aug. 17, 2026.
- Burger King
- Starbucks
- Sunoco
- 7-11
- Restrooms and dining area
Anyone who may have been exposed at the plaza, including at these specific locations, should check their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms, the health department said. Because the virus remains in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, even after the person with infection leaves the area, anyone who utilized these indoor spaces is urged to check their vaccination history. Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects the lungs and spreads when a person who is infected breaths, coughs, or sneezes.
Symptoms to Watch For and the 21-Day Monitoring Window
Medical guidance issued by the state highlights a specific progression of symptoms that can emerge anywhere from 7 to 21 days after exposure.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the head or face and spreads downward.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health
Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after exposure. The only way to prevent measles is with the MMR vaccine. Anyone who believes they were exposed to measles and are experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider or call the Department’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).
Vaccination Status and Lifelong Protection
State health agencies emphasize that immunization remains the primary defense against the virus. Officials said in a release that individuals who are not vaccinated are most at risk for infection. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling, with nearly 20% of infected individuals requiring hospitalization.
Getting vaccinated is the best protection from the highly contagious measles virus, providing 97 percent lifetime protection after two doses.
Pennsylvania health officials
State health officials emphasized that receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine provides 97% lifetime protection against the virus.
Toll-Free Hotline and Reporting Information
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should call the Department of Health’s number 1-877-PA-HEALTH. More information can be found on the Department’s website. People who believe they were exposed to measles and are experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider or call the Department’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).
