Two unvaccinated individuals have died of measles in Pennsylvania, state health officials announced on Tuesday. The deaths, both involving residents of Lancaster County, mark the first measles-related fatalities in the United States this year and the first in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
Pennsylvania Reports First Measles Deaths in 35 Years
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen declined to share additional details about the individuals during a media briefing, citing patient confidentiality. In a statement, Bogen said, My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss.
She added, 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.
Outbreak Spreads Across Pennsylvania Counties
Lancaster County has seen the majority of cases in Pennsylvania’s growing outbreak. State health officials confirmed that 393 cases have been reported across 28 counties, with 86 of those diagnoses occurring in the final week before Tuesday’s announcement. A total of 70 people have been hospitalized in the state for measles complications.
During the media briefing held at Lancaster General Health’s Women & Babies Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey Martin of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital warned about the dangers of the illness. These tragic deaths remind us that measles is not a harmless illness,
Martin said.
Health authorities note that measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to medicine. It typically kills one to three people for every 1,000 infected and can cause short- and long-term health problems, including pneumonia and brain swelling. Up to 20% of infected individuals require hospitalization.
National Surge and Vaccination Rates
The deaths in Pennsylvania arrive amid a broader national resurgence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2,777 measles cases have been reported nationwide, marking the highest number recorded since 1991. Nationally, 193 people have been hospitalized this year, and the majority of infected individuals are unvaccinated. Last year, three people died from measles in outbreaks originating in West Texas and New Mexico.
Public health experts emphasize that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine provides strong defense against the virus. The vaccine is administered in two doses—around ages 1 and 5—and offers 97% protection, usually for life. During active outbreaks, children as young as six months old become eligible for an early, extra dose.
However, vaccine exemption rates have risen. CDC data indicates that 4.2% of kindergartners—about 155,000 children—had at least one vaccine exemption during the 2025–26 school year, an increase from 3.6% the previous year. In Lancaster County, MMR vaccination rates dropped from 95.5% in 2017 to 87.6% in 2025.
Political Leaders Clash Over Public Health Policy
During the state media briefing, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the outbreak and criticized federal health figures. Shapiro stated that he spoke with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had called to offer resources for the outbreak response. Shapiro said he declined the offer and noted he was blunt with Kennedy regarding the public health consequences of skepticism toward medical professionals.
Critics and medical organizations have repeatedly raised concerns regarding anti-vaccine rhetoric from public figures. Pediatricians and public health experts have pointed to declining immunization coverage as a primary driver behind the return of preventable diseases like measles.
