Pennsylvania reports two measles deaths in Lancaster County

measles outbreak Pennsylvania health vaccine hesitancy MMR vaccine Lancaster County

Two unvaccinated individuals have died from measles in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, marking the first measles-related deaths in the state in 35 years and the first in the United States in 2026.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed 393 measles cases across 28 counties so far this year. In Pennsylvania alone, 70 people have been hospitalized due to complications from the virus. Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen emphasized that the MMR vaccine is safe and remains the best protection against the highly contagious disease.

Nationwide, the United States has recorded more than 2,700 measles cases in 2026, the highest number in 35 years. This resurgence follows a period where the disease was considered eliminated in the U.S. Data from the CDC indicates a rise in vaccine exemptions, with 4.2% of kindergartners receiving at least one exemption during the 2025-26 school year.

Entities

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Debra Bogen · Donald Trump · Lancaster County · Pennsylvania Department of Health

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] 70 people in Pennsylvania have been hospitalized due to measles complications. www.nbcnews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Pennsylvania has confirmed 393 measles cases across 28 counties in 2026. abc17news.com · www.unilad.com · www.nbcnews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen stated that the MMR vaccine is safe and provides the best protection against measles. abc17news.com · www.unilad.com · www.nbcnews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Two unvaccinated individuals died from measles in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. abc17news.com · www.unilad.com · www.nbcnews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] This marks the first measles death in Pennsylvania in 35 years. abc17news.com · www.unilad.com · www.nbcnews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] During the 2025-26 school year, 4.2% of kindergartners had at least one vaccine exemption. www.nbcnews.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The United States has recorded more than 2,700 measles cases so far in 2026. abc17news.com · www.nbcnews.com
[● 2 SOURCES] These are the first measles-related deaths reported in the United States in 2026. abc17news.com · www.nbcnews.com

Sources

Two people in Pennsylvania have died from measles [abc17news.com]

about 1 hour ago

Department of Health confirms Pennsylvania's first measles deaths in over three decades [www.unilad.com]

about 1 hour ago

Two die of measles in Pennsylvania outbreak [www.nbcnews.com]

about 2 hours ago