Amish Country Is Seeing a Major Measles Outbreak. RFK Jr. Is Making It Worse.

Key Points:

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now HHS Secretary, has continued promoting anti-vaccine rhetoric, particularly targeting Amish and Mennonite communities in Pennsylvania, leading to a surge in measles cases and undermining public confidence in vaccines.
• Lancaster County reported over 200 measles cases and two measles-related deaths in 2026, with experts warning the true number of cases may be much higher, raising concerns about increased transmission as children return to school.
• Dr. Holmes Morton, a longtime advocate for vaccination among the Plain People, criticizes Kennedy's lack of scientific understanding and the Trump administration's impact on public health agencies, which has compromised their ability to respond effectively.
• CDC Director Erica Schwartz, confirmed amid skepticism, has failed to counteract anti-vaccine misinformation, with the CDC controversially removing Pennsylvania's measles-related deaths from national statistics, apparently under political pressure.
• Public health experts warn that the measles outbreak could worsen significantly without a strong, science-based response from federal agencies, highlighting the dangers of politicizing health crises during a preventable disease resurgence.