First Measles Deaths Reported In US This Year — American Academy Of Pediatrics Responds

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents have died of measles, the first deaths linked to the virus in the state in 35 years, its Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

They are the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. this year, according to NBC News.  

Both people lived in Lancaster County. Officials declined to release further details, saying they were protecting the privacy of the families.

The deaths come as measles spreads across the country at levels not seen in 35 years.

Pennsylvania has confirmed 393 cases in 28 counties so far in 2026, according to the DOH.

“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,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania”s health secretary.

Bogen, a physician, said the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and offers the best protection available. Two doses provide 97% lifetime protection, the DOH said.

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in a room or on surfaces for up to two hours after that person leaves, according to the DOH.

Symptoms usually begin seven to 21 days after exposure. Early signs include fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A rash follows a few days later, starting on the head and moving down the body.

Those first symptoms may be mistaken for other respiratory infections. So health officials urge anyone with these signs or who may have been exposed to call a healthcare provider right away.

The illness can turn serious quickly. Nearly 20% of people who catch measles are hospitalized, the DOH said. Complications include pneumonia and brain swelling. Death is rare, but occurs in 1 to 3 of every 1,000 cases.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) responded to the deaths by urging parents to check whether their children are up to date on the MMR — or measles, mumps and rubella — vaccine.

“We were deeply saddened to receive the report of two measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania today, reminding all of us that measles remains a serious and potentially deadly disease,” AAP President Dr. Andrew Racine said Tuesday.

Racine said the vaccine is very effective at stopping transmission, and that when enough eligible people are vaccinated, the wider community builds a level of protection that shields those who are most vulnerable. 

This includes babies too young for their first shot.

The AAP recommends routine measles vaccination starting at age 1. Children as young as 6 months should be vaccinated early if they live in or are traveling to a community with an active outbreak, the group said.

“In 2026, decades after measles was eliminated in the United States, it is heartbreaking to witness deaths from a disease that is preventable with a vaccine that has been widely used since the 1970s,” Racine said.