Two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents have died from measles, state health officials announced Tuesday.
Both victims were residents of Lancaster County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which declined to release additional details about the individuals citing privacy concerns. The deaths mark the first measles fatalities in the state in 35 years.
“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,” said Secretary of Health Debra Bogen.
The announcement came as Pennsylvania grapples with a significant outbreak, with 393 cases reported across 28 counties so far in 2026. The outbreak has spread widely throughout the state, reaching nearly half of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
The Pennsylvania deaths add to a troubling national picture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2,777 confirmed measles cases nationwide as of August 20, making 2026 the worst year for the highly contagious disease in decades.
The overall 2026 figures represent the highest number of U.S. Cases in a single year since a major resurgence between 1989 and 1991, when more than 55,000 infections and 123 deaths were recorded. That earlier outbreak had prompted a renewed push for childhood vaccination that had largely contained the disease until recent years.
Measles, which is preventable through vaccination, had been declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 after decades of widespread immunization. The disease spreads through respiratory droplets and is considered one of the most contagious infectious diseases, with unvaccinated individuals facing high risk of infection if exposed.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has not released information about whether the two deceased individuals were part of any specific community or demographic group. Lancaster County, located in southeastern Pennsylvania, has a significant Amish and Mennonite population, some members of which have historically had lower vaccination rates.
Health officials across the country have been working to contain multiple concurrent outbreaks, with cases concentrated in communities with low vaccination coverage. The CDC has urged parents to ensure children receive the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, which is typically administered in two doses and is about 97 percent effective at preventing measles.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Pennsylvania deaths.
In the viral moment that preceded this announcement, measles had already reemerged as a significant public health concern in 2026, with outbreaks reported in multiple states and health officials warning of declining childhood vaccination rates in certain communities. The Pennsylvania cases represent a particularly severe milestone, as the state had not recorded a measles death since 1991.
Health authorities continue to monitor the outbreak as case counts climb, with vaccination campaigns and public education efforts ongoing in affected areas.