The US Just Recorded Its First 2 Measles Deaths This Year
The fatalities come amid declining vaccination rates and calls from President Donald Trump to split up the MMR vaccine.
Two people in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have become the first measles-related fatalities of 2026, according to the state health department. Both victims were unvaccinated Amish residents. Pennsylvania has reported 393 cases of measles this year, with roughly half of those occurring in Lancaster County. Governor Josh Shapiro declared measles a "serious and growing problem" during a press conference on Tuesday.
He emphasized that measles prevention measures are available and effective. During the outbreak, nearly 20 percent of infected individuals in Pennsylvania have been hospitalized. Complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, or deafness can occur, sometimes leading to intellectual disability. Nationwide, there have been nearly 2,800 measles cases this year, up from 2,289 cases in 2025 and significantly higher than the 285 cases in 2023.
A decline in vaccination rates across the country is contributing to the current outbreaks, with recent data showing a decrease in vaccination coverage among kindergartners. Only 87 percent of incoming kindergarteners in Lancaster County are fully vaccinated. Shapiro attributed the rise in cases to misinformation around vaccination.
The MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective against measles if administered with both doses, and serious side effects are rare in fully vaccinated individuals. Shapiro reported that the state health department has conducted 91 pop-up vaccination clinics and administered over 4,100 vaccines across the state this year in response to the outbreak, with about a quarter of those given in Lancaster County.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has expressed vaccine skepticism, suggested that measles outbreaks are primarily in religious communities that do not vaccinate. Shapiro rejected Kennedy's assistance, stating that the administration's actions and rhetoric negatively impact communities. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to split the MMR vaccine into separate doses, a move criticized by over 210 medical organizations and patient groups for leaving children less protected and families more confused.
The MMR vaccine has been licensed since 1971 as a single injection, with no scientific basis for separation.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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