U.S. measles deaths rise to 10 after new reports in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin

Key Points:

• The total measles deaths in the U.S. have reached 10 this year amid a record outbreak, with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin each reporting new fatalities, including a child in Wisconsin and an unvaccinated resident in Pennsylvania.
• Approximately 5,400 measles cases have been recorded this year, more than double last year's count and the highest since 1991, largely due to declining vaccination rates and a global resurgence of the virus.
• Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but ongoing transmission for nearly a year has put this status at risk, with the Pan American Health Organization expected to decide on the U.S. measles-free status soon.
• Infants too young to be vaccinated are particularly vulnerable, with at least four deaths this year among babies under vaccination age, prompting some states to recommend early doses for infants in high-risk areas.
• Vaccination rates have declined nationally, with 75% of counties below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks, and the percentage of vaccinated kindergartners dropping from 95% in 2019-20 to 92% in 2025-26.