In a sobering reminder of the dangers of measles, two unvaccinated individuals in Pennsylvania have succumbed to the disease, marking the first measles-related deaths in the state in 35 years. This tragic event underscores the resurgence of measles in the U.S., with cases reaching record highs in recent years.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the deaths on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, noting that both individuals were residents of Lancaster County, the epicenter of a statewide measles outbreak. The outbreak has sickened hundreds, with the majority of cases reported in adults between the ages of 18 and 49.
The Resurgence of Measles in the U.S.
Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, can cause severe complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling. The disease can be mild for some, but about one in four people sickened with measles is hospitalized. Young children, pregnant women, and the elderly are among those who are at risk of more severe disease.
More than 2,700 measles cases have been reported in the U.S. this year—the highest number of cases since the disease was considered eliminated in the country in 2000. In just the past two years, the U.S. has recorded more measles cases than it did from 2000 through 2026 combined. This alarming trend highlights the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of measles.
The Role of Vaccination in Preventing Measles
The measles vaccine, delivered as a combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shot series, is 97% effective at preventing the disease and lowers the risk of complications if someone is infected. However, vaccination rates have been declining in recent years, with the national MMR vaccination rate among kindergarteners dropping from 95.2% in the 2019-2026 school year to 92.4% in the 2026-2026 school year.
In Lancaster County, home of the largest Amish settlement in the country, the vaccination rate was under 88%. An estimated 25% of the Amish population in Lancaster County is vaccinated against measles, according to the Association of Immunization Managers. This low vaccination rate has contributed to the spread of measles in the community.
Vaccination rates began notably declining in the U.S. during the COVID pandemic and have continued dropping amid increasing anti-vaccine rhetoric and policy under the Trump Administration. On August 10, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called for U.S. children to receive fewer vaccines and ordered the MMR vaccine to be split into three separate shots, despite a lack of scientific evidence to back the changes.
The Impact of Declining Vaccination Rates
Doctors and vaccine scientists have criticized Trump’s executive order and comments as unscientific and misleading. Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), stated that the executive order on vaccines is not only disheartening but dangerous, especially as measles cases reach a 35-year high in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles. The CDC also advises adults who haven’t been immunized against measles or who are unsure about their vaccination status to get the vaccine.
In light of the ongoing measles outbreak, health officials are urging parents to ensure their children are immunized. Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatric emergency medicine physician in Rochester, N.Y., recommends that parents of children under age 1 talk to their doctor about an earlier dose of the vaccine, depending on how much measles is circulating in their area.
