Two unvaccinated residents of Pennsylvania have passed away after contracting measles, marking the first US deaths associated with the highly contagious virus this year, state health officials said Tuesday.
The victims were residing in Lancaster County, west of Philadelphia. Officials have yet to officially further details about them.
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen expressed condolences to their families and issued a warning that decades of low measles rates may have caused people to underestimate the disease's severity.
The deaths come as the US experiences its worst measles outbreak since 1991. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2,777 cases so far this year, already surpassing the total recorded in 2025.
The US eliminated sustained domestic measles transmission in 2000; however, vaccination rates have seen a sharp decline in recent years.
As per health experts, roughly 95% vaccination coverage is needed to prevent outbreaks from spreading through communities.
Notably, the resurgence has fueled political debate over childhood vaccination policies. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro criticized the Trump administration's approach, stating public messaging around vaccines has caused confusion among parents.
President Donald Trump has called for changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism from medical professionals over vaccine-related positions.
Lancaster County, home to a large Amish population, has historically had reduced vaccination rates.
According to state data, nearly 88% of kindergartners there were up to date on measles vaccinations during the last school year.
Pennsylvania has recorded nearly 400 measles cases this year. The state says about 35,000 people have received measles vaccinations recently, above its usual monthly average of around 25,000.
International health officials are likely to review the US and Mexico's measles-free status in November.
