In brief
In Pennsylvania, two people who had not received the measles vaccine succumbed to the virus in a community that has seen 393 cases this year. The deaths highlight the gap between actual vaccination rates, which hover around 85 percent in Lancaster County, and the 95 percent threshold needed for herd immunity. Officials from Governor Josh Shapiro warned that measles, an entirely preventable disease, continues to claim lives as vaccine hesitancy grows, especially after a recent executive order that could cause confusion about the MMR vaccine. With the U.S. at risk of losing its measles elimination status, experts highlight the urgent need for clear and consistent public health messaging.
Two people who were not vaccinated against measles have died of the virus in Pennsylvania, health officials said.
The state has seen 393 cases of the highly contagious virus this year, as infections across the US have hit the highest point in 35 years.
In Lancaster County, the recent deaths occurred where eighty five percent of kindergarten‑age students are vaccinated, well below the 95 percent rate needed for herd immunity and to protect immunocompromised people.
Last year, two unvaccinated children in Texas died from a measles outbreak that infected over one thousand people, primarily children.
Governor Josh Shapiro warned that measles deaths are completely preventable and called for stricter vaccination enforcement.
Officials said they will not share identities of the deceased, including whether they were children, as they face higher risk from measles.
The U.S. has recorded 2,777 confirmed measles cases in 2026, up from last year’s high of 2,289.
Vaccine hesitancy is driving lower immunisation rates; the U.S. recommends two doses for children between one and six that are 97 percent effective.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order this month that calls for fewer childhood vaccinations and recommends splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate shots, sparking concern among public health experts about the potential confusion and added costs.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has made mixed statements about the MMR vaccine, sometimes endorsing it and other times sharing unproven claims.
Governor Shapiro told the CDC that the rhetoric from this administration is harming communities and putting lives at risk.
The U.S. is on track to lose its status of having eliminated measles, which will be reviewed by a panel in November, following Canada’s loss last year.
