Pennsylvania measles deaths put renewed focus on U.S. vaccination gaps
Pennsylvania health officials announced on August 25, 2026, that two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents had died after measles infection. The state described the deaths as measles-associated and said they were Pennsylvania’s first measles-related deaths in 35 years.
Whether measles was the primary or a contributing cause of at least one death remains disputed. The development is drawing national attention because confirmed U.S. measles cases have already surpassed the total recorded for all of 2025, while routine vaccination coverage among kindergartners has declined.
What Pennsylvania reported
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said both deceased residents were unvaccinated and lived in Lancaster County. The state’s “measles-associated” designation reflects measles infection in the cases but does not by itself resolve every question about the primary cause of death.
Pennsylvania officials said the state had confirmed 393 measles cases in 28 counties as of August 25. They urged people who may have been exposed to review their vaccination records and monitor for symptoms.
Why one death is disputed
An August 28 Associated Press report said Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni disputes measles as the cause of death for a newborn boy who died August 14. The infant was too young for a recommended measles vaccination.
According to the AP report, testing of the boy’s lung tissue found evidence of measles infection. The coroner, however, attributed the death to a tear in the spleen and said the virus did not play a role. That leaves an unresolved distinction between confirmed infection and whether measles was the primary or a contributing cause of death.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health said it stands by its announcement and uses two questions to determine whether a death was measles-related: whether the person had measles and whether the person died. The state has not released additional identifying details about the deceased, and publicly available information about the second death remains limited.
U.S. cases have passed 2025’s total
CDC data updated August 21 showed 2,777 confirmed U.S. measles cases through August 20, 2026. That exceeds the 2,289 cases reported for all of 2025. The CDC said 2,614 of the 2026 cases—94%—were associated with outbreaks.
The figures are preliminary and subject to change as jurisdictions complete reporting and investigations. The CDC also said its data update scheduled for August 28 was delayed, so the next published total may differ.
Reporting delays can complicate outbreak assessments. A recent CDC analysis of a completed South Carolina outbreak explained how nowcasting can adjust for incomplete reports and help public-health officials estimate current case counts and transmission trends. That analysis does not establish whether transmission in Pennsylvania is currently rising or falling.
Vaccination coverage has fallen
CDC SchoolVaxView data show that national MMR coverage among kindergartners fell to 92.4% during the 2025–26 school year. That is below the more-than-95% level generally associated with community protection against measles.
About 280,000 kindergartners attended school without documentation that they had completed the MMR series, according to the CDC. The share of kindergartners exempt from one or more vaccines rose to 4.2%, from 3.6% the previous school year—about 155,000 children.
National averages do not describe every community. Vaccination rates and outbreak risks vary by state, county and smaller groups of residents, so local gaps can matter even when the national average is relatively close to the community-protection threshold.
What people should do after an exposure
People who may have been exposed should check their vaccination records and monitor for fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a rash that develops later. Symptoms can begin seven to 21 days after exposure.
Anyone who develops symptoms or believes they were exposed should call a health care provider before arriving in person so staff can reduce the risk of exposing others. Pennsylvania officials also list the Department of Health hotline, 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258), for questions about possible exposure.
State and federal agencies are expected to continue updating case counts and outbreak information. Further clarification of the Lancaster County death could also change how Pennsylvania and national officials characterize the 2026 measles toll.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of Health announcement
- Associated Press follow-up on the disputed death
- CDC measles surveillance data
Look for updates to this story
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