Measles returns to the US as Pennsylvania records fifth death and highest number of cases in 35 years

Health authorities in Pennsylvania have announced the fifth death linked to the measles outbreak in the state, as the United States faces its highest number of cases of the disease in 35 years.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the victim was a resident of Lancaster County and had not been vaccinated against measles. No further information has been released about the person who died.

Lancaster County is known for its large Amish community. This traditional Christian community has significantly lower vaccination rates than the rest of the population.

Although measles was considered eliminated in the US in 2000, following a prolonged period of vaccination, the disease has returned forcefully in recent years. Declining vaccination rates and growing distrust of health institutions are among the factors that have contributed to the situation.

Four other deaths in Pennsylvania have been linked to measles since August. The victims included two infants who were not yet old enough to be vaccinated, an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old.

Since the beginning of 2026, more than 3,650 measles cases have been laboratory-confirmed across the US. More than 900 of them have been recorded in Pennsylvania, bringing the country to its highest level of cases since 1991.

Measles spreads easily and is accompanied by a high fever, difficulty breathing and a skin rash. Severe forms of the disease can cause pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and, in some cases, death.

Before the vaccine was developed in the early 1960s, measles caused hundreds of child deaths every year in the United States. Worldwide, the disease continues to claim tens of thousands of lives each year.