Two unvaccinated people from Pennsylvania have died from measles, marking the first time in 35 years that deaths from this cause have been recorded.

Health officials in Pennsylvania announced on Tuesday that two unvaccinated individuals from Lancaster County died from measles, an unprecedented event in the state in the last 35 years.

Since the beginning of 2026, Pennsylvania has reported 393 cases of measles in 28 counties. Health Secretary Debra Bogen emphasized that measles has been virtually eliminated in this state for over three decades, and people are no longer familiar with the severity of this contagious disease. Nationally, the incidence of measles has significantly increased, with 2,777 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of August 20, 2026, the highest annual number of cases since the outbreak of 1989-1991.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not provide further comments on this matter.