The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reviewing whether two infant deaths in Pennsylvania were directly caused by measles, as the nation records its highest annual measles case count in over three decades.
Two infant deaths confirmed in Pennsylvania outbreak
A 6-week-old baby girl died in August in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, after contracting measles, according to Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni. The infant also had a rare genetic disorder called Amish lethal microcephaly. A second infant, a baby boy, died shortly after birth in mid-August after his infected mother went into labor prematurely. Both deaths occurred within weeks of each other, marking the first measles-related infant fatalities in Lancaster County in recent years.
The CDC has not yet included these two deaths in its official measles tally while conducting a review to determine if measles directly caused or contributed to the fatalities. The agency reported 3,134 confirmed measles cases nationwide as of Friday, the highest annual total since 1991.
Measles cases surge in multiple states
Pennsylvania has recorded 577 measles cases in recent months, with 115 new cases reported in the past week alone, according to state health officials. The majority of cases are concentrated in Lancaster County. Wisconsin and Ohio have also seen significant increases, with Wisconsin reporting 144 cases (up from 26 a month ago) and Ohio reporting 129 cases (up from over 60 in the same period).
Nationally, 94% of measles cases this year involved individuals who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. The CDC has recorded 38 new outbreaks in 2026, compared to 48 in 2025. Hospitalizations have reached 248, representing 8% of cases, though no additional deaths have been confirmed beyond the two under review in Pennsylvania.
Vaccination rates decline amid outbreak concerns
Health officials attribute the rise in measles cases to a steady decline in childhood MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination rates since the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC has emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles, which is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.
The agency continues to monitor the situation closely, with health departments in affected states urging vaccination and public health precautions to curb further spread. No timeline has been provided for the CDC’s review of the Pennsylvania deaths.