Two unvaccinated people in Pennsylvania have died from measles, marking the first measles-related deaths in the United States in 2026 and the first in the state in 35 years.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed the deaths on August 25, 2026. Both individuals lived in Lancaster County. Officials did not release further personal details, citing privacy concerns for the families.
Pennsylvania has recorded 393 confirmed measles cases across 28 counties so far this year. Lancaster County has been hit especially hard, with around 185 cases. About 70 people in the state have been hospitalized. Health officials note that the true number of infections may be higher because some communities, including Amish and Mennonite groups in the area, often avoid conventional medical care.
Nationally, the United States has reported more than 2,700 measles cases in 2026. This is the highest annual total since the major outbreaks of 1989–1991 and far above the 2,289 cases recorded in 2025. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but cases have risen sharply in recent years as vaccination rates have declined.
In Pennsylvania, kindergarten vaccination rates for measles have fallen from 96.7 percent in 2017 to 92.7 percent in 2026. In Lancaster County, the rate among kindergartners was about 87.6 percent in the most recent school year. Nationwide, roughly 94 percent of this year’s cases involve people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. It spreads easily through the air and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and, in rare cases, death. About one in five people who get measles require hospitalization.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen expressed sympathy for the families and stressed that many people no longer recognize how severe measles can be because the disease was largely absent for decades. She urged residents to get vaccinated, noting that two doses of the MMR vaccine provide about 97 percent lifelong protection.
The state has responded with dozens of pop-up vaccination clinics and public health outreach. Officials continue to encourage anyone who is not fully vaccinated, especially young children, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems, to seek the MMR vaccine.
The deaths highlight the growing risk of measles returning as a serious public health threat in communities with lower vaccination coverage.
Reference links
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/newsroom/pennsylvania-department-of-health-confirms-two-measles-associate
- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/well/measles-deaths-pennsylvania-outbreak.html
- https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pennsylvania-reports-two-deaths-measles-health-department-says-2026-08-25/
- https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/08/two-unvaccinated-people-die-from-measles-in-pennsylvania-officials-confirm/