Pennsylvania infant among two measles deaths, first in state in 35 years
Pennsylvania health officials reported that an infant and another unvaccinated resident died of measles, marking the state's first measles-related fatalities in 35 years and the first in the United States this year.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed that an infant and another unvaccinated resident died after contracting measles, the first measles-related deaths in the state since 1989 and the first in the United States this year. Both victims were residents of Lancaster County, where the proportion of children fully vaccinated with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine fell from 95.5% in 2017 to 87.6% last year. The department has recorded 424 measles cases statewide this year, including 94 diagnosed in the past week, and 73 hospitalizations for complications.
The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office is investigating the infant’s death, which followed a positive measles test. State officials noted that infants aged 6 to 11 months are particularly vulnerable because maternal antibodies decline before the first recommended MMR dose at 12 to 15 months.
"The real vulnerability is in infants between 6 and 11 months of age, as maternal antibody is waning and they haven’t gotten their first dose of the MMR vaccine," said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.
In areas with high exposure risk, health authorities sometimes advise an early vaccine dose starting at six months, a strategy used during a 2023 outbreak in Texas that also resulted in two unvaccinated child deaths. Nationwide, 2,777 measles cases have been confirmed this year, the highest number in 35 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization to consider whether the United States has lost its measles elimination status.