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Pennsylvania's measles crisis keeps getting worse. Franklin County reported a sixth measles-associated death — a 39-year-old woman with underlying health conditions — as the state surpasses 1,000 total cases. Meanwhile, a standoff between state officials and the CDC over how to define and count measles deaths continues to cloud the national picture.
Pennsylvania is now reporting six measles-associated deaths in 2026, the latest involving a 39-year-old woman from Franklin County with multiple underlying health conditions, including a prior measles diagnosis. The state has logged over 1,078 cases across dozens of counties, with Lancaster County bearing the brunt at 401 infections. All previously confirmed deaths in the state involved unvaccinated individuals — including two infants too young to be vaccinated.
The outbreak has exposed a deepening rift between Pennsylvania officials and federal health authorities. The CDC has only confirmed two measles-related deaths nationally, having shifted to using mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics rather than state-reported figures — a move that has drawn sharp criticism. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have publicly clashed over how measles deaths should be defined, with experts warning the dispute is itself becoming a public health problem.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles year in over three decades, and Pennsylvania is at the epicenter. Declining vaccination rates, political disputes over death definitions, and eroding public trust in vaccines are converging into a crisis that experts warn could cost the U.S. its measles-eliminated status.
