State health officials in Pennsylvania announced on Tuesday that two unvaccinated individuals have died from measles. These deaths are the first in the state in 35 years.
The announcement comes one day after Maryland declared a measles outbreak across St Mary’s, Carroll, and Cecil counties, reporting 31 confirmed cases. New York also urged residents to get vaccinated on Monday due to an increase in cases in rural areas.
Dr Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania's secretary of health, expressed sympathy for the loved ones, noting that many are unfamiliar with the potential severity of measles due to its previous elimination in the Commonwealth. Measles is highly contagious and preventable with a vaccine, with one to three deaths occurring for every 1,000 infections. Up to 20% of infected individuals may require hospitalisation.
Pennsylvania state officials stated that both individuals who died were residents of Lancaster county. The state has recorded nearly 400 cases across 28 counties, with almost half in southern Lancaster county. Most reported cases are among adults aged 18 to 49.