Officials warn of 'potential severity of the illness' after Pennsylvania reports first measles deaths in decades - 6abc Philadelphia
Pennsylvania has reported its first measles deaths in decades, marking a concerning rise in cases across the U.S. Health officials attribute the surge to declining vaccination rates and ongoing debates regarding vaccine policy.
Why it matters
The return of measles as a fatal threat in the U.S. underscores the public health consequences of vaccine hesitancy and shifting federal health policies.
PHILADELPHIA -- Two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents have died after being infected with measles, the first U.S. deaths this year related to the contagious virus.
State health officials announced the deaths Tuesday. They did not reveal any details about the people who died, other than that they lived in Lancaster County, west of Philadelphia.
"My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones who are facing this unimaginable loss," said state Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen. "Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don't fully understand the potential severity of the illness."
The U.S. has now seen five measles-associated deaths in the last two years - more than the combined total of reported deaths over the previous three decades - and is enduring its worst year for measles since 1991.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in