Pennsylvania Confirms Fifth Measles-Associated Death

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Sept. 30 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that an unvaccinated resident of Lancaster County tested positive for measles and has died.

This is the fifth Pennsylvanian who meets the measles-associated death definition as the number of confirmed measles cases stands at 943 across 39 counties so far in 2026. All but four of the cases have been among people who were not fully vaccinated. Since the outbreak began in April, at least 176 people have been hospitalized.

The four other measles-associated deaths reported by Pennsylvania include an unvaccinated teen who lived in Mifflin County, a 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County and two infants in Lancaster County. About 40% of the commonwealth’s cases have been concentrated in Lancaster County.

Worth noting is that Pennsylvania has reported 40 cases since Sept. 28, and health officials told CNN they expect cases to continue to climb, like other respiratory viruses, during the fall and winter months. However, the commonwealth reported that throughout September, more than 53,000 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine doses were administered statewide, more than doubling the amount in a typical month. Getting vaccinated remains the best protection against the measles virus; the vaccine is proven 97% effective at preventing measles for life after two doses.

As CMM previously reported, the U.S. is experiencing its worst year for measles since 1991. Additionally, the last time there were four deaths related to measles in one year was 1992. Last year, three U.S. deaths were confirmed from measles—two in Texas and one in New Mexico. 

As of Sept. 25, the CDC has confirmed 3,659 measles cases in 45 states and the District of Columbia. For 2025, a total of 2,289 confirmed measles cases were reported in the U.S.

The nation eliminated the domestic spread of measles in 2000 by maintaining high vaccination rates, but they have fallen in recent years to below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks. In November, international health officials will meet to determine if the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles-free status.