Measles Outbreak and Vaccination Controversy
Pennsylvania reports multiple measles-related deaths linked to unvaccinated individuals, sparking debate over vaccination policies and public health responses.
August 2026
Pennsylvania health officials report two measles deaths
Pennsylvania health officials reported two measles deaths. These deaths were subsequently excluded from the CDC's national measles data update.
Source ↗Pennsylvania Reports Two Measles Deaths Among Unvaccinated Individuals
The Pennsylvania state health department announced that two unvaccinated individuals died from measles. This incident represented the first measles-related deaths recorded in the state in 35 years.
Source ↗Two unvaccinated individuals die from measles in Pennsylvania
Two individuals in Pennsylvania died from measles. The post reports these deaths as the first measles-related fatalities in the United States this year.
Source ↗Pennsylvania reports first two measles deaths in the US this year
Two unvaccinated residents in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died from measles. State health officials announced these deaths on Tuesday.
Source ↗CDC reports 2,777 measles cases in the US this year
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,777 measles cases in the United States as of Thursday. This count has already surpassed the total from 2025.
Source ↗Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen comments on measles
State Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen issued a statement expressing sympathy for the families. She noted that measles was largely eliminated in Pennsylvania for over three decades.
Source ↗CDC Director Erica Schwartz orders measles data exclusion statement
CDC Director Erica Schwartz reportedly ordered CDC staff to add a statement to the CDC website for measles surveillance data. This statement noted that the update would not include deaths reported by Pennsylvania.
Source ↗CDC excludes two Pennsylvania measles deaths from national data
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention excluded two measles deaths reported by Pennsylvania health officials from its latest update of national measles data. This move challenged the precedent that states are the arbiters of case and death determinations.
Source ↗September 2026
Jefferson County Coroner reports third measles death in Pennsylvania
The Jefferson county coroner announced the death of a 40-year-old woman. This death is reported as the third in Pennsylvania's ongoing measles outbreak.
Source ↗