Pennsylvania reports first measles deaths in 35 years

Pennsylvania has reported its first measles deaths in 35 years: two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County died during an outbreak that has reached 393 cases statewide, amid the largest national resurgence of the disease since 1991. Source: El Caribe The deaths are the first in the U.S. in 2026, following three fatalities in 2025. Source: Milenio

The outbreak

The outbreak is concentrated in Lancaster County, home to a large Amish population with lower vaccination rates. Source: Infobae State health officials confirmed 393 cases across 28 counties, with 86 new diagnoses in the last week and 70 hospitalizations. Source: El Caribe Nationally, the CDC reports 2,777 confirmed cases in 2026, surpassing last year's total of 2,289, with 94% of patients unvaccinated or of unknown status. Source: Infobae The previous annual peak was 9,643 cases in 1991. Source: Milenio

Vaccination decline

Vaccination coverage has fallen: in Lancaster County, MMR coverage dropped from 95.5% in 2017 to 87.6% in 2025. Source: El Caribe Nationally, kindergarten exemption rates rose to 4.2% in 2026, affecting about 155,000 children. Source: El Caribe Health Secretary Debra Bogen stressed that the MMR vaccine is safe and offers the best protection. Source: Infobae

Political context

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order reducing recommended childhood vaccines, a move backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and criticized by pediatricians. Source: El Caribe Andrew Racine of the American Academy of Pediatrics called the deaths "heartbreaking" and urged leaders to promote vaccination. Source: Milenio