Pennsylvania reports first measles deaths in 35 years

Pennsylvania has confirmed two deaths from measles in Lancaster County, the first deaths from the disease in the state in 35 years.

The state Department of Health confirmed that both individuals were unvaccinated, but said it would not be releasing any other information to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families. During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Governor Josh Shapiro and other state officials refused to provide additional information, including age of the deceased or if they were related.

“I want to be clear, this illness and death from measles is completely preventable,” Shapiro said. “We already have the tools to protect ourselves and our families from this disease, which is one of the most contagious diseases on the face of the Earth.”

Measles can cause serious short- and long-term health problems, including pneumonia and brain swelling, and nearly 20% of people who contract it become hospitalized. Death related to measles, though rare, occurs in one to three patients per 1,000 cases.

Measles spreads via an infected person’s breathing, coughing or sneezing. The virus remains in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.

The statewide outbreak comes as children head back to school starting this week, and vaccination rates have declined statewide.

State Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogan said the department worked with the Department of Education, school administrators and school nurses to prepare for the 2026-27 school year, including sharing information about how to spot measles in schools.

“Just last week, nearly 1,000 Pennsylvania school nurses attended the Department of Health measles briefing to prepare for the school year,” Bogan said.

The state has also been working to educate physicians, many of whom are not practiced at spotting signs of measles, which was declared eradicated in the United States a quarter of a century ago.

The state also recently launched a tool to view vaccination rates in schools.

Shapiro said he was concerned about U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s comments that the majority of measles outbreaks were in Amish and Mennonite communities. He said he spoke with Kennedy on Tuesday and turned down assistance from the federal government.

“While I appreciate his willingness to offer staff to assist us, we think we’re able to manage through the Department of Health,” Shapiro said. “I was very, very blunt with him and I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that’s coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania, that there’s real-life consequences to spreading misinformation. Sharing conspiracy theories and misinformation does not help the cause of public health. And it leaves people less healthy and less safe and it leaves parents in a position where it’s harder for us to do our jobs to protect our children.”

Partway through the year, 2026 has become the worst year for measles in the U.S. since before the start of the millennium. Since Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported 2,777 cases nationwide; 97% of them are in people who are either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

Pennsylvania has the third-highest number of confirmed cases, following South Carolina and Utah, with 393 cases as of Monday. Cases are rapidly increasing in the state, with 86 cases reported since Aug. 17. The first cases of measles in years in Lehigh County were reported several weeks ago, among two unvaccinated children. So far, no cases in Pennsylvania have been reported among children who are fully vaccinated.

The majority of cases in Pennsylvania have been in Lancaster County, where 185 have been confirmed and neighboring Chester, York and Lebanon counties, where 77 cases have been reported. In total, 28 counties have reported cases, including four in Berks County.

The best protection against measles is getting fully vaccinated. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, administered over two doses, boosts a person’s immune system and provides 97% lifetime protection.

So far in 2026, the state has administered more than 4,100 MMR vaccinations at 91 pop-up vaccination clinics in affected areas, with 40 more planned. Shapiro added that over the last month, providers across the state have administered 35,000 doses of the MMR vaccine, about 10,000 more than they do in an average month.

Shapiro said that the deaths in Lancaster County change nothing about the state’s strategy in countering the measles outbreaks, and it will continue to focus on education and immunization.

The onset of measles symptoms usually occurs one to two weeks after exposure and includes a rash that starts at the hairline and gradually moves downward, covering the entire body. It can also include a fever up to or higher than 104 degrees, cough, runny nose, and red and watery eyes. Measles often develops into pneumonia, especially in children, and ear infections, diarrhea and brain swelling can also occur. This brain swelling, called encephalitis, can also happen up to 10 years later.