Two people who were not vaccinated against measles have died of the virus in Pennsylvania, health officials said.


The state has reported 393 cases of the highly contagious virus this year, as infections across the U.S. have hit the highest point in 35 years.


Last year, two unvaccinated children in Texas died from a measles outbreak that infected over 1,000 people, primarily children.


Eighty‑five percent of kindergarten‑age students in Lancaster County, where the deaths occurred, are vaccinated against measles – well below the 95% rate needed for herd immunity to limit the spread and protect immunocompromised people.


"My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss," Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen said in a statement.


"Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don't fully understand the potential severity of the illness.


She added that the MMR vaccine provides the best protection against illness and death. The health department did not share any further information on the deceased.


The U.S. has seen 2,777 confirmed cases of measles in 2026, just seven months into the year, up from last year’s high of 2,289.


The rise comes as vaccine hesitancy increases, leading to lower immunisation rates. The U.S. recommends two MMR shots to children between ages one and six, which is 97% effective.


Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccinations and recommending splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate shots. Public health experts worry the order will cause confusion about an already safe and effective vaccine and prove costly.


The order followed Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s overhaul of U.S. vaccine policies, including the childhood schedule. Many changes were blocked by a federal judge earlier this year.


Kennedy has shared mixed messaging on the MMR vaccine, at times endorsing it and other times spreading unproven safety claims.


The U.S. is on track to lose its status of having eliminated measles, with a panel determining this in November. Canada lost its status last year.