Measles Deaths in Pennsylvania Mark First in 35 Years as Cases Rise

Two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have died from measles, marking the state's first fatalities from the disease in 35 years. The deaths come amid a national surge, with 2,777 confirmed cases in the U.S. so far in 2026, including 393 in Pennsylvania. Health officials attribute the rise to falling vaccination rates, as measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.