Overview
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed late Tuesday that two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents died of measles, the state’s first measles deaths in 35 years and the first U.S. measles fatalities reported in 2026.
- Pennsylvania has recorded 393 confirmed cases this year across multiple counties, with about 70 hospitalizations, and state officials are withholding further identifying details to protect privacy.
- The state has expanded on‑the‑ground vaccination efforts, running 91 pop‑up clinics and administering more than 4,100 MMR doses as officials urge residents to get vaccinated.
- National data show roughly 2,700–2,800 confirmed U.S. measles cases in 2026, with about 94–96% of infections in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
- Public‑health leaders say declining kindergarten MMR coverage and rising nonmedical exemptions have created vulnerable pockets of the population, and an international panel will review U.S. elimination status in November.