Pennsylvania reports fifth measles death as US outbreak hits 35-year high

Pennsylvania health officials confirmed the state's fifth measles-associated death of 2026 as its ongoing outbreak climbed toward 1,000 confirmed cases across 39 counties, with at least 198 people hospitalised. The latest victim was an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County in the state's southeast; officials declined to release further details, citing privacy. The announcement, picked up by CNN, Al Jazeera, The Hill and ABC News on and around October 1, placed Pennsylvania at the centre of what the CDC now describes as the worst US measles year since 1991. Nationally, cases have surpassed the previous 35-year high, driven overwhelmingly by unvaccinated children and adults in communities with low MMR coverage. Public-health officials urged families to check vaccination records, warning that two doses of the MMR vaccine remain roughly 97% effective and that measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis and death in previously healthy people. The story reignited debate about state exemption rules and federal vaccine messaging, especially as the CDC's Vaccines.gov site was reported down the same day during peak flu season.