Two Unvaccinated Pennsylvanians Die as Measles Outbreak Grows
Pennsylvania health officials confirmed two measles deaths, both among unvaccinated residents, as the state records nearly 400 cases amid a nationwide surge.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County have died from measles, marking the first deaths in the state in 35 years and the first in the United States this year. The outbreak has now produced 393 confirmed cases, with 86 reported in the past week, and 70 hospitalizations for complications.
"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," Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen said in a statement. "As a physician, I want to make sure that people understand that the MMR vaccine is safe and provides the best protection we have against measles."
Lancaster County, which accounts for most of the state's cases, has seen a decline in MMR vaccination rates, falling from 95.5% in 2017 to 87.6% in 2025. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,777 measles cases this year, the highest total in 35 years, with about 7% of patients hospitalized.
Public health officials note that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, administered in two doses in early childhood, provides roughly 97% lifelong protection against measles.