Officials warn of 'severity of the illness' after first Pennsylvania measles deaths in decades

Key Points:

• Two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have died from measles, marking the first U.S. deaths from the virus this year amid a national surge in cases.
• The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles outbreak since 1991, with 2,777 cases reported so far in 2024, surpassing last year's total and raising concerns about losing measles-free status.
• Declining vaccination rates and recent federal actions, including President Trump's executive order on vaccine recommendations, have contributed to increased vaccine hesitancy and outbreaks.
• Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro criticized the federal administration's rhetoric on vaccines, emphasizing the real-life consequences of misinformation and affirming the state's capacity to manage the outbreak.
• Efforts to promote measles vaccinations in Pennsylvania have increased, with about 35,000 people vaccinated recently, though some communities, such as the Amish in Lancaster County, remain hesitant toward vaccines.