Measles Kills Pennsylvania Teen, Fourth Death This Year

The deaths come amid what The Guardian describes as the worst year for measles in the United States since 1992. Pennsylvania has reported 693 cases so far in 2026, including 99 in a single week, while national cases exceed 3,200, far above last year's 2,289. Measles is among the most contagious diseases known: the virus spreads through the air and through droplets from coughs and sneezes, and people are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after. Roughly nine in ten unvaccinated people who are exposed become infected. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine prevents about 97% of cases, yet vaccination rates among kindergarten children have been slowly falling. Nationally, just over 92% of them are fully protected, below the 95% needed for herd immunity. Experts quoted by The Guardian blame confusion created by the Trump administration, whose health secretary once led an anti-vaccine group.

Pennsylvania's health secretary, Dr Debra Bogen, expressed sympathy for the families and said the state would work to stop the outbreak by making sure people have accurate information and access to the vaccine. Demand is rising: more than 46,000 MMR doses were given in the state in August, compared with about 25,000 in a typical month. A Pittsburgh doctor told CBS News that there is no treatment for measles, so preventing contact is essential. Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that federal officials have changed how deaths are reported, so none of this year's four deaths appear in the national count.