Science & Health · Public Health Updated 10 days ago 2 publishers reporting
Two Unvaccinated Pennsylvanians Die as Measles Cases Surge Nationwide in 2026
News Brief
State health officials confirmed that two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have died from measles, marking the first measles deaths in the state in 35 years and the first reported in the United States this year. Pennsylvania has recorded 393 confirmed measles cases across 28 counties, while the United States has tallied 2,777 cases in 2026, the highest total since 1991. Vaccination coverage has slipped nationally to roughly 92%, below the 95% herd‑immunity threshold, and kindergarten‑age vaccination in Lancaster County is estimated at about 86%, well under the level needed to curb spread. Health Secretary Debra Bogen expressed sympathy for the families and urged increased uptake of the MMR vaccine, noting that many people are unfamiliar with the disease’s severity after decades of elimination.
Key points
Two unvaccinated individuals in Lancaster County died from measles, the first deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
Pennsylvania reported 393 measles cases this year; the United States has recorded 2,777 cases in 2026, the highest since 1991.
National measles vaccination rates have fallen to around 92%, below the 95% herd‑immunity target.
Kindergarten‑age vaccination in Lancaster County is estimated at roughly 86%, well under the level needed for community protection.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen urged residents to receive the MMR vaccine, emphasizing its safety and effectiveness.
Public health officials warn that declining vaccination rates and misinformation are contributing to the resurgence of the highly contagious virus.
What sources agree on
Two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have died from measles.
The deaths are the first measles fatalities reported in Pennsylvania in 35 years and the first in the US in 2026.
Pennsylvania has documented 393 confirmed measles cases across 28 counties this year.
The United States has recorded 2,777 measles cases in 2026, the highest total since 1991.
National measles vaccination coverage is around 92%, below the 95% herd‑immunity threshold.
Kindergarten‑age vaccination in Lancaster County is roughly 86%, well below the level needed to limit spread.
Still unclear
No material disagreement was identified in the supplied reports.
Source & attribution
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2 independent reports
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Ars TechnicaNorth America
Original headline
Two unvaccinated people die from measles in Pennsylvania, officials confirm
