Pennsylvania reports two measles deaths in Lancaster County, state’s first in three decades

Pennsylvania reported two measles-related deaths on Tuesday, the first fatalities from the highly contagious disease in the state in 35 years.

The deaths occurred in Lancaster County, the center of a major measles outbreak that has sickened nearly 400 people this year, state officials said. Both people were unvaccinated.

In a statement, Secretary of Health Debra Bogen called the deaths “an unimaginable loss.”

“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 said.

She urged Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated against the disease, which can linger in the air for up to two hours and infect nine in 10 unvaccinated people exposed to it.

“As a physician, I want to make sure that people understand that the [measles, mumps, and rubella] vaccine is safe and provides the best protection we have against measles,” she said.

State officials would not provide additional details about the two people or their families to protect their privacy, they said. They added measles can cause serious complications that include pneumonia and brain swelling.

Just under 20% of people diagnosed with measles this year in Pennsylvania were hospitalized. But deaths are rare, occurring in about one to three people in every 1,000 cases. Three people died of measles nationwide in 2025.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website had recorded no other deaths this year as of last week.

Pennsylvania had reported the third-highest number of measles cases in the country for 2026, behind Utah and South Carolina, according to the CDC’s latest available data from Thursday.

Delaware has reported 22 cases this year, the first time in a decade that the highly contagious disease has been diagnosed in state residents. New Jersey has confirmed just one case.

In Pennsylvania, children made up about one-third of the 393 patients diagnosed with measles in two separate outbreaks so far this year, state officials say. None of the patients diagnosed with measles this year have been fully vaccinated.

Last year, the state reported 16 measles cases.

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated.

Read more on Pennsylvania's measles outbreak

• Inside Pa.’s measles outbreak: A family rides out the virus, doctors treat severely ill children

• Pennsylvania health officials address measles outbreak: ‘We will not slow down until this ... is over.’

• In Lancaster, measles cases are rising as providers try to combat low vaccination rates

• More than 200 Philly-area schools are vulnerable to a measles outbreak

• What are the measles vaccination rates in your district? See how your school compares.