Two unvaccinated people die of measles in Pennsylvania
Two people who were not vaccinated against measles have died of the virus in Pennsylvania, health officials said.
Two unvaccinated individuals have succumbed to measles in Pennsylvania, according to health authorities. This year, the state has reported 393 cases of the highly contagious virus, marking a significant increase as infections across the US have reached their highest levels in 35 years. In Lancaster County, where the recent deaths took place, 85% of kindergarten-aged students are vaccinated against measles, falling short of the 95% threshold necessary to maintain herd immunity and safeguard vulnerable populations.
Last year, two unvaccinated children in Texas perished from a measles outbreak that infected over 1,000 people, mostly children. "This is a serious and growing problem across our country and in our commonwealth," stated Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro during a press conference on Tuesday. "This illness and death from measles is completely preventable."
He emphasized that the MMR vaccine is the most effective means of preventing illness and death. Officials declined to disclose further details about the deceased, including their ages, as they face a higher risk of complications from measles. The US has documented 2,777 confirmed measles cases this year, just seven months into the year, compared to last year's peak of 2,289 cases.
The surge in cases coincides with a rise in vaccine hesitancy in the US, resulting in lower immunization rates. The US recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for children between the ages of one and six, which is 97% effective in preventing the illness. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order proposing fewer childhood vaccinations and recommending the MMR vaccine to be administered in three separate doses.
Public health experts are concerned that the order will create confusion surrounding an already safe and effective vaccine and incur significant costs. The executive order followed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent efforts to overhaul US vaccine policies over the past year, including revisions to the childhood vaccination schedule.
However, many of these changes were blocked by a federal judge earlier this year. Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, has issued contradictory statements about the MMR vaccine, occasionally supporting it and at other times disseminating unproven claims about its safety. During the press conference, Governor Shapiro mentioned that he spoke with Kennedy on the phone earlier that day and expressed his disapproval of Kennedy's actions and rhetoric.
"His actions and the messaging from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America. The consequences of spreading misinformation are very real," Shapiro stated. The US is set to lose its status of having eliminated measles, a determination to be made by a panel in November. Canada recently lost its measles elimination status the previous year.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
