Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak Surpasses 1,000 Cases, Five Dead
Pennsylvania has recorded 1,004 measles cases across 39 counties in 2026 — the state's largest outbreak in decades — with at least 198 hospitalisations and five deaths reported.
Pennsylvania is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in decades, with the state Department of Health reporting 1,004 confirmed cases across 39 counties as of late October 2026. At least 198 people have been hospitalised, and five measles-associated deaths have been recorded. Two of the deaths were among unvaccinated adults aged 18 and 40, and two involved infants who were too young to have received the MMR vaccine. A fifth death involved an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County whose age has not been disclosed. Lancaster County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, is the epicenter of the outbreak with 391 confirmed cases. Fewer than 1% of cases statewide have occurred among fully vaccinated individuals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last week it had not received a formal Epi-Aid request from Pennsylvania, but stands ready to send epidemiologists to the state if one is made. Nationally, US measles cases have surpassed 3,800 in 2026, spread across 45 states and Washington, D.C. — the highest total since 1991.
Vaccination rates have slipped in recent years: 92.4% of kindergartners received the MMR vaccine in the 2025–2026 school year, compared with 95.2% before the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania's DOH has administered more than 8,800 MMR doses during the outbreak, roughly 3,500 in August and more than 2,500 in September. The CDC recommends two MMR doses — at 12 to 15 months and again between ages 4 and 6 — which together are 97% effective against measles.
