Two unvaccinated individuals have died from measles in Pennsylvania, state health officials confirmed, underscoring the consequences of declining immunization rates amid a nationwide resurgence of the virus.
Pennsylvania has recorded 393 cases so far this year, contributing to a U.S. total that has reached its highest level in 35 years. In 2024, a Texas outbreak claimed the lives of two unvaccinated children and infected more than 1,000 people, predominantly minors.
The recent fatalities occurred in Lancaster County, where only 85% of kindergarten-age students are vaccinated against measles — well below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity to protect vulnerable populations.
“My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said in a statement. “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.”
Dr. Bogen emphasized that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the most effective protection against infection and death. The department has not released identifying details about the deceased.
As of July, the United States has confirmed 2,777 measles cases in 2026, surpassing the full-year total of 2,289 reported in 2025. Public health experts attribute the surge to growing vaccine hesitancy, which has driven down childhood immunization rates. The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for children between ages one and six, a regimen that is 97% effective at preventing the disease.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for reduced childhood vaccinations and recommending that the MMR vaccine be administered as three separate shots. Public health experts warn the directive could sow confusion about a long-established, safe vaccine and increase costs.
The order follows a series of moves by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restructure U.S. vaccine policy, including revisions to the childhood immunization schedule — many of which were blocked by a federal judge earlier this year. A longtime vaccine skeptic, Kennedy has issued conflicting statements on the MMR vaccine, alternately endorsing it and promoting unsubstantiated safety concerns.
The United States risks losing its World Health Organization designation as a country that has eliminated measles, a determination expected from an expert panel in November. Canada lost its elimination status in 2024.
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