Pennsylvania Sees First Measles Deaths in 35 Years Amid National Case Count Surge

Two residents of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania have died from measles, marking the state's first disease-related fatalities in 35 years. The cases are also the first reported in the US this year.

The national case count is already the highest since 1991, with a predicted increase to 4,000 cases by the end of the year, according to Polymarket. This would be an increase of 75% from last year's total of 2,289 cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles can spread quickly in communities with low vaccination rates. In fact, 93% of US cases this year involve people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

Pennsylvania has confirmed 393 cases across 28 counties, with Lancaster County accounting for 185 infections and both deaths. The county's kindergarten MMR coverage rate stood at just 87.6% during the 2025-26 school year, which is below the level generally considered necessary to prevent sustained community transmission.

Merck & Co Inc (NYSE: MRK) manufactures the M-M-R II and ProQuad vaccines, while GSK plc (NYSE: GSK) makes Priorix. The companies have rejected claims from President Donald Trump that separate shots are safer or more effective than the combined MMR vaccine.