Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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.
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.
The measles surge has coincided with moves by President Donald Trump's administration to scale back childhood vaccinations, based on concerns — unfounded, according to scientific studies — about vaccine safety.
Doctors have raised concerns that Trump and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are stoking confusion and hesitancy.
In a media briefing Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had spoken with Kennedy, who offered the assistance of federal health staffers. Shapiro declined the offer, saying Pennsylvania's health department was able to handle the current situation.
“I was very, very blunt with him," Shapiro said. "I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that’s coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania.”
He added: "There’s real-life consequences to scaring people and not relying on actual doctors and actual medical professionals to provide unbiased information to parents so that we can make reasonable decisions for our kids."
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/nation-world/2-measles-deaths-reported-in-pennsylvania-marking-first-deaths-in-35-years-pa-pennsylvania-outbreak-fatal-commonwealth-deadly-measles-penn-state-health-medicine-vaccine
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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.
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.
The measles surge has coincided with moves by President Donald Trump's administration to scale back childhood vaccinations, based on concerns — unfounded, according to scientific studies — about vaccine safety.
Doctors have raised concerns that Trump and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are stoking confusion and hesitancy.
In a media briefing Tuesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had spoken with Kennedy, who offered the assistance of federal health staffers. Shapiro declined the offer, saying Pennsylvania's health department was able to handle the current situation.
“I was very, very blunt with him," Shapiro said. "I made very clear that his actions and the rhetoric that’s coming from this administration are having a negative impact on communities across America, particularly right here in Pennsylvania.”
He added: "There’s real-life consequences to scaring people and not relying on actual doctors and actual medical professionals to provide unbiased information to parents so that we can make reasonable decisions for our kids."
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/nation-world/2-measles-deaths-reported-in-pennsylvania-marking-first-deaths-in-35-years-pa-pennsylvania-outbreak-fatal-commonwealth-deadly-measles-penn-state-health-medicine-vaccine
_______________
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13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit 13wham.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
