Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak: Third Death Reported Amid CDC Controversy

Pennsylvania health officials confirmed a third measles-related death on September 12, 2026, as the United States navigates its largest resurgence of the contagious viral infection in 35 years, according to reports from local coroners and state agencies.

The latest fatality involved a 40-year-old resident of Jefferson County who died from complications associated with measles, according to a statement from the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.

This recent death follows an announcement by state officials regarding two infant deaths from measles in Lancaster County during August 2026. Neither infant was old enough to be vaccinated, as the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is typically administered around 12 to 15 months of age.

Outbreak Scope and Hospitalization Figures Across Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Department of Health reported that 676 measles cases have been confirmed across 37 counties in the state this year, leading to 124 hospitalizations. State health officials reported earlier figures noting 393 cases confirmed in the state, with Lancaster County having seen the majority of measles cases in the state’s growing outbreak.

State health officials noted that out of all confirmed cases in Pennsylvania this year, only four individuals—representing less than 1%—were fully vaccinated.

These tragic deaths remind us that measles is not a harmless illness.

Dr. Jeffrey Martin, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital

Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,387 measles cases in 2026 as of September 13, a significant increase from the 2,286 reported across the country in 2025. South Carolina is experiencing a similar surge with 671 reported cases, while Utah has recorded 518 cases this year.

Public Health Response and Vaccine Exemption Trends

The rising case counts coincide with an increase in vaccine exemptions among school-aged children. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.2% of kindergartners—about 155,000 children—had at least one vaccine exemption during the 2025–26 school year, up from 3.6% the previous year.

In Lancaster County specifically, vaccination rates for the MMR vaccine have declined from 95.5% in 2017 to 87.6% in 2025.

During a media briefing, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro discussed federal engagement regarding the outbreak response, noting that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had offered resources.

I was very, very blunt with him, and I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that’s coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Medical professionals continue to emphasize that the MMR vaccine, administered in two doses around age 1 and age 5, offers 97% protection against measles, usually for life. Public health guidelines also permit children as young as six months to receive an early, extra dose of the vaccine during active outbreaks.