Two Unvaccinated Pennsylvanians Die From Measles Amid Rising Outbreak

Measles vaccine

Two people who were not vaccinated against measles have died of the virus in Pennsylvania, health officials said.

The state has seen 393 cases of this highly contagious virus this year, the highest point in 35 years across the United States.

In Lancaster County, where the deaths occurred, only 85% of kindergarten-age students are vaccinated—well below the 95% rate needed for herd immunity to curb spread and protect vulnerable groups.

Last year, two unvaccinated children in Texas died from a measles outbreak that infected over 1,000 people, mostly children.

"This is a serious and a growing problem across our country and in our commonwealth," Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said in a news conference. "This illness and death from measles is completely preventable."
Shapiro added that the MMR vaccine is the best tool to protect against illness and death.

Officials will not disclose the identities of the deceased, including whether they were children, due to the higher risk of severe outcomes for young patients.

The United States has recorded 2,777 confirmed measles cases in 2026, only seven months into the year—up from last year's high of 2,289.

Rising cases coincide with increasing vaccine hesitancy, leading to lower immunisation rates. The U.S. recommends two MMR shots for children between one and six, achieving roughly 97% effectiveness.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccinations and a split of the MMR vaccine into three separate shots. Public health experts worry the order will cause confusion and prove costly.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken steps to remodel U.S. vaccine policies, several of which were blocked by a federal judge earlier this year. Kennedy has alternated between endorsing the MMR vaccine and sharing unproven safety claims.

Speaking on Tuesday, Shapiro said he had a phone conversation with Kennedy that morning and offered CDC staff support. He described Kennedy’s rhetoric as having a negative impact on communities, emphasizing real-life consequences of misinformation.

The U.S. is on track to lose its status of having eliminated measles, expected to be confirmed by a panel in November. Canada lost the status last year.