2 Unvaccinated Pennsylvanians Die After Contracting Measles As Outbreak Reaches Nearly 400 Cases

Two people in Lancaster County have died from measles-associated complications, Pennsylvania health leaders announced Tuesday.

They are the first fatal cases linked to the highly infectious viral disease seen in the commonwealth in 35 years, officials said.

Both people were unvaccinated, according to health experts. State Department of Health officials said they will not release information about their ages or identities to “protect the privacy of the individuals and their families.”

The deaths come at a time when Lancaster County remains a hot spot for an ongoing measles outbreak. Since April, the county has recorded 177 measles infections.

There have been 393 total cases across 29 counties so far this year, according to state data.

“My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss,” Dr. Debra Bogen, Secretary of Health, said in a statement. “Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don’t fully understand the potential severity of the illness. We want to ensure every Pennsylvanian has the information they need to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.”

State leaders say vaccine misinformation and distrust in scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of vaccines is driving waning immunization rates, leaving communities vulnerable to disease outbreaks.

“Folks are spreading skepticism about things like the MMR vaccine without any evidence to back up their claims,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday in Lancaster. “That scares a parent who’s just trying to do the right thing by their kids. And it plays a role in why so many people right now are getting measles for the first time in decades. When the information we see coming from the federal government in some cases isn’t driven by facts and by science, it makes it even more confusing for parents, and that has a serious impact.”