Pennsylvania measles cases near 800 in ongoing outbreak - Inquirer.com
Pennsylvania is experiencing a major measles outbreak with nearly 800 cases and four associated deaths. The situation has sparked a political conflict between Governor Josh Shapiro and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. regarding vaccine safety and the accuracy of death reporting.
Why it matters
The outbreak highlights growing tensions between public health officials and federal leadership over vaccination policy and data transparency.
The state’s measles outbreak is the largest in the country in 2026 and is centered in Lancaster County, which has reported more than 300 cases this year.
Chester County has confirmed 76 measles cases so far this year, the third-highest total in the state behind Mifflin County in Central Pennsylvania, which has reported 93 cases.
State officials have reported four deaths associated with the outbreak : two infants in Lancaster County, a 40-year-old woman in Jefferson County, and an 18-year-old in Mifflin County.
The state defines a “measles-associated” death as one that occurs within 30 days of symptom onset in a person with clinical evidence of infection and a positive laboratory test for measles, and who did not die of another unrelated cause, like a car crash.
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