Deadly Measles Outbreak Spreads in Pennsylvania Amid Vaccination Concerns
Source reports published 25 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 2:53 pm AEST
A severe measles outbreak is occurring in Pennsylvania, particularly impacting Amish communities with low vaccination rates. Over 1,300 cases have been reported, leading to deaths and hospitalizations, amid ongoing debates about vaccination.
What happened
- Pennsylvania is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in over three decades, with more than 1,300 confirmed cases as of late October.
- The outbreak is concentrated in Lancaster County, home to the country's largest Amish community, where vaccination rates are low.
- Six people have died, including two infants and a 20-year-old resident of Lancaster County.
- The disease, highly contagious and potentially fatal, has primarily affected individuals aged 18 to 49, with over 250 hospitalizations.
- Braxton Mitchell, co-director of the University of Maryland's Amish research program, explains that the Amish’s social structure and reluctance to engage with modern medicine contribute to rapid virus spread.
- Steve Nolt, a professor at Elizabethtown College, notes a strong sense of Lancaster heritage and identity within the county, while expressing concern about the spread of the virus to non-Amish residents.
- Jeanne Franklin, the Chester County public health director, reports that some individuals with measles did not seek medical care, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
- Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen emphasized the importance of listening to local healthcare providers to refine the public health response.
- Health officials recommend two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is nearly 97% effective against measles, and have reported increased interest in vaccination following the outbreak.
Original reporting
- ABC: Deadly measles spread hitting US state's Amish hard amid White House row
2026-10-25T04:53:08+00:00 - NPR: U.S. measles cases more than double what they were last year as outbreak spreads
2026-10-25T00:00:00+00:00