Pennsylvania health officials announced Tuesday that two Lancaster County residents have died from measles, marking the first measles-related deaths recorded in the state in 35 years. Both individuals were unvaccinated, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which did not release additional information because of privacy concerns.
The deaths occurred as Pennsylvania continues to record a significant number of measles infections. State officials have reported 393 cases across 28 counties so far this year, with 185 of those cases identified in Lancaster County.
The two deaths are also the first measles-related fatalities reported in the United States in 2026.
Pennsylvania Among States Reporting High Numbers of Cases
The United States has recorded 2,777 confirmed measles cases this year, the highest annual total in more than three decades. The disease had previously been largely eliminated in the country, but case numbers have increased as vaccination coverage has declined.
Health officials said the 2026 total is the highest recorded in a single year since the resurgence that occurred between 1989 and 1991, when 55,000 infections and 123 deaths were reported.
Pennsylvania has been among the states most affected by the outbreak. Nearly half of the state’s reported infections have occurred in Lancaster County.
International health officials are scheduled to meet in November to determine whether the United States and Mexico have lost their measles-free status.
Vaccination Levels Remain Below Recommended Threshold
Public health authorities state that vaccination rates of 95% or higher help prevent outbreaks by creating herd immunity, which protects individuals who cannot be vaccinated.
Two doses of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine provide 97% protection against the virus. Children generally receive the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6.
According to Pennsylvania Department of Health data for the 2025-2026 school year, 93.2% of kindergarten students statewide had received the required two doses of the MMR vaccine. That figure was 93.7% during the previous school year.
Vaccination coverage was lower in Lancaster County, where 87.6% of kindergarten students had received the required two-dose series during the 2025-2026 school year. State data from the previous school year similarly showed that about 88% of kindergarten students in the county were up to date on measles vaccination.
Nationally, federal data released last week showed that kindergarten vaccination rates declined slightly while the proportion of children receiving vaccine exemptions reached a record high.
Health Officials Warn About Reduced Familiarity With the Disease
Commenting on the deaths, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen said, “Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness.”
Bogen also expressed sympathy for the families affected by the deaths.
The United States eliminated local measles transmission in 2000 through sustained high vaccination rates. However, health officials have linked the recent rise in cases to declining vaccine coverage.
The increase in infections has occurred amid continuing debate over childhood vaccination policy. The information provided by health officials noted that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump have promoted a link between vaccines and autism, a claim described by health authorities as contrary to established scientific evidence. Earlier this month, Trump also issued an executive order calling for a reduction in recommended childhood vaccines. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was not immediately available for comment.
Pennsylvania Reports First Measles Deaths in 35 Years
Pennsylvania health officials have reported the state’s first measles-related deaths in 35 years as infections continue to rise. Two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County died from the disease, marking the first measles deaths reported in Pennsylvania since 1991.
Pennsylvania Measles Cases Continue to Rise
The outbreak has expanded significantly across Pennsylvania. State officials reported 393 confirmed cases across 29 counties as of August 25, with 86 cases recorded during the preceding week. The current total is the highest reported in the state since 1992.
Pennsylvania Faces Growing Public Health Concerns
The deaths have intensified concerns about measles transmission in Pennsylvania, particularly in communities where vaccination coverage is lower. Measles is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.
