Pennsylvania records fifth measles death as cases reach 943

Pennsylvania's department of health reported on 30 September that an unvaccinated Lancaster County resident who tested positive for measles has died, the state's fifth measles-associated death of 2026. The state's outbreak now stands at 943 confirmed cases across 39 counties, with 176 hospitalisations, according to state data released the same day. Health officials did not release further information about the individual, citing privacy protections.statnews.com

The death matters because Pennsylvania had not recorded a measles-related death in 35 years before this summer, and because the state and federal health agencies are in open dispute over whether these deaths count as measles-related. The fifth death follows a fourth reported two weeks earlier. Measles is considered one of the most contagious diseases known to medicine, and unvaccinated people face risks of pneumonia and brain swelling from the respiratory virus.theguardian.com

What the state reported

Neil Ruhland, a department spokesman, declined to say more about the deceased. Measles infections previously claimed two children in Lancaster County last month, according to health officials. The two previous fatalities in Lancaster County were followed by the deaths of a 40-year-old Jefferson County woman and an 18-year-old Mifflin County resident, according to their county coroners. Dr Stephen Diamantoni, Lancaster County coroner, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lancaster County has been the epicentre of the outbreak, counting nearly 400 cases as of Wednesday afternoon. Agricultural communities in Lancaster and Mifflin counties have remained at the centre of Pennsylvania's outbreak. As of Monday 28 September, Pennsylvania had recorded 40 new positive cases. Only four of the confirmed cases have involved vaccinated individuals, representing less than 1% of the state's total.

The dispute with federal officials began after Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary and former head of an anti-vaccine advocacy group, publicly questioned whether the deaths linked to the measles outbreaks since he took office were caused by the virus or by another condition. After Pennsylvania notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about its first two measles-related deaths in August, Kennedy suggested Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro fabricated the deaths for political gain. Shapiro blamed Kennedy for sowing distrust in vaccines.

Where the cases are concentrated

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at first declined to include the deaths in its official measles outbreak tally and has since included two of them. Due to how the Trump administration changed its method for reporting measles deaths, the agency has not counted all the Pennsylvania measles deaths in its national tally. The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nationally, the US has recorded 3,669 confirmed measles cases in 45 states as of 24 September, a 35-year high and the worst outbreak since 1991. More than 3,600 measles cases have been reported across the US in 2026, according to the CDC. The US eliminated measles in 2000, though it is unclear whether it can retain that status amid the recent outbreaks. Utah, Florida, Virginia and Texas have also reported dozens of cases.

The federal counting dispute

Since the outbreak began in late April, staff at state health centers have administered more than 5,500 measles, mumps and rubella vaccine vaccinations through 180 pop-up vaccination clinics in affected communities, according to a statement released on 30 September. Dozens of additional vaccination clinics are planned for the coming weeks and months, depending on community interest and need. The MMR vaccine prevents 97% of measles cases.

Pennsylvania requested emergency assistance from the CDC earlier this month in response to the measles outbreak, but warned the request could be withdrawn unless the federal agency publicly recognised the measles-associated deaths reported by the state. In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order recommending that the MMR vaccine be split into three shots, which would require parents to make more trips to the doctor for the same protection.